In every generation, there emerges a peculiar class of leaders, who mistake stewardship for ownership, service for supremacy, and tenure for entitlement. They do not merely seek to lead; they seek to linger. They do not simply desire influence; they crave permanence. In Odidi, this phenomenon has matured into what can only be described as "The Age of the Gladiators of power Elongations"—men and women who enter the arena of leadership not to serve the people, but to wrestle time itself.

Leadership, in its purest form, is a sacred trust. It is a covenant between the governed (masses) and the governor (Executive Council of the Community), built on accountability, humility, and renewal. The beauty of democracy at the lowest level—community, the integral part of the local Government Area (LGA), lies in its rhythm—the predictable, peaceful transfer of responsibility from one steward to another. It is this rhythm that keeps communities vibrant and prevents the suffocation of fresh ideas.

But when leaders begin to manipulate structures, exploit sentiments, and weaponize loyalty to extend their stay in office, democracy loses its melody. It becomes a contest of endurance rather than excellence.

▪️THE ARENA OF ELONGATION

The gladiators of power elongation thrive in carefully constructed narratives. They speak of “unfinished projects,” of “stability,” of “continuity”, but in Odidi Federated Community these gladiators have no single project. They present themselves as indispensable pillars without whom the house must collapse, yet no foundation, just imaginary pillars.

Yet history, both distant and near, has proven a timeless truth: no individual is bigger than a community.

Power elongation often disguises itself as experience. It hides behind the rhetoric of loyalty and continuity. But beneath the surface lies a deep anxiety—the fear of irrelevance, the dread of accountability, the discomfort of returning to ordinary citizenship.

When the desire to remain becomes stronger than the commitment to serve, leadership mutates into possession. And possession, by its very nature, breeds conflict.

▪️THE POLITICS OF BITTERNESS

Perhaps more corrosive than the elongation itself is the bitterness it leaves in its wake. When ambition overshadows collective interest, divisions deepen. Allies become adversaries. Criticism is branded betrayal. Dissent is treated as disloyalty.

Bitterness thrives in environments where fairness is perceived to be absent. When processes appear manipulated and outcomes predetermined, trust erodes. Citizens grow cynical. Participation dwindles. Conversations shift from hope to suspicion.

The tragedy of bitterness is that it rarely confines itself to the political elite. It trickles down into families, friendships, and community institutions. It transforms healthy competition into hostile rivalry. It replaces dialogue with accusation.

In Odidi, as in many communities before it, the danger is not merely who holds office, but how power is pursued and preserved.

▪️THE ILLUSION OF PERMANENCE

Time has a way of humbling even the most determined gladiator. The arena of politics is littered with figures, who once believed their grip was unshakeable. Yet seasons change. Faces fade. New voices rise.

True legacy is not measured by how long one sits, but by how well one serves. It is not the length of tenure that commands respect, but the depth of impact.
Communities flourish when leadership transitions are embraced as opportunities rather than threats. Rotation is not rejection; it is renewal. It is the oxygen of democratic life.

▪️A CALL FOR MATURITY AND RENEWAL

Odidi stands at a crossroads. It can allow the politics of elongation to define its narrative, or it can choose a higher path—one of maturity, fairness, and collective progress.

The antidote to power hoarding is institutional strength. Clear rules. Transparent processes. Active citizen participation. Courageous voices willing to defend principle over personality.

Leadership should inspire unity, not cultivate camps. It should build bridges, not battlefields.

The gladiators of power elongation may dominate the arena for a season, but history ultimately honors the bridge-builders—the leaders who knew when to lead and when to let go.

In the end, Odidi’s story will not be written by those who fought hardest to remain, but by those who worked hardest to serve. And that is the enduring lesson: power is most dignified not when it is clutched, but when it is conscientiously handed over.

▪️POWER IS TRANSIENT

Power, no matter how formidable it appears, is never permanent. It rises, it reigns, and inevitably, it recedes.

History is a vast gallery of once-untouchable figures whose dominance seemed immovable—until time reminded them of its quiet authority.

Authority often creates an illusion of permanence. Titles, offices, and influence can intoxicate the human mind, persuading its holder that the moment will last forever. Yet seasons change. Governments rotate. Applause fades. The same crowd that cheers today may demand accountability tomorrow. Power, by its very nature, is borrowed—never owned.

The transient nature of power is not a weakness of leadership; it is its discipline. It ensures renewal. It creates space for fresh ideas and new energy. It prevents stagnation and protects institutions from becoming personal estates. When leaders understand that their authority is temporary, they govern with greater humility and responsibility.

Those who cling to power often do so out of fear—fear of irrelevance, fear of obscurity, fear of losing influence. But the paradox is this: legacy is strengthened not by how long one holds power, but by how honorably one releases it. The most respected leaders are not those who refused to step aside, but those who knew when their season had run its course.

Power is transient, but impact can be enduring. Titles expire; character does not. Offices change hands; integrity remains remembered. In recognizing the fleeting nature of authority, leaders are reminded of a timeless truth: it is not the possession of power that defines greatness, but the purpose for which it was used.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amb. Truston Gesikeme Gbenekama, a Doctoral Fellow Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management (DrFigpcm) and PhD in view, Delta State University Abraka, writes from Odidi Kalama

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