Where in such a mess because Nigerian political psychopaths are a federation. When psychopaths federate, their exponential evil can be overwhelming. Nigeria became a racket and a criminal enterprise because of the conspiracy of psychopaths. Conspiratorial activity is standard operating procedure in the league of political psychopaths.
When someone steals enough money to cover all imaginable expense for a family of six for five lifetimes or five generations without any need for paid work, psychopathy explains it. When someone begins to steal that which he does not need, psychopathy explains it. When someone enjoys seeing extreme poverty living side by side his vast estate built with stolen money from the public till, psychopathy explains it. When a leader is happy seeing calamitous human suffering and he remains unperturbed, psychopathy explains it.
I have not carried out any study nor have I come across any research work to back up the claim I am about to make but I’m fairly certain that I cannot be off based on keen observation and understanding of the Nigerian political elite. My theory is that at least half of those who go into politics in Nigeria are undiagnosed psychopaths. The worst and most aggressive of these psychopaths are those who gets to the highest levels of government. They become senators, representatives, governors, ministers and top level party apparatchiks. These professional climbers are hard core psychopaths. That is, tried, true and undiagnosed clinical psychopaths. Most of our politicians are people who should be straight-jacketed and institutionalised in psychiatric hospitals or locked away in labour camps.
With Nigerian politicians, normal has a new meaning and a new level of appreciation. Normal is good, sweet and liberating. Being normal means being good. It is a greater perspective. That is why normal people were scandalised when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chose an alleged sponsor of terror as their chairman. Most of us normal people have control over our impulses and our dark side because we are generally good. Among our population, we also have the near normal. They are those who are not totally evil. People who are more good than bad. These group of people are redeemable with support and counselling, and are capable of doing good. Then comes the abnormal, the true psychopath. These are shameless devils with no heart. They are totally unfeeling and oppressive. The psychopath is often smooth, charismatic, likable and energetic. He is given to lying and he lies with effortless ease. Persons so afflicted will attract and court anyone who can further their ambitions. They recruit willing and unwilling enablers and promoters. Psychopaths cheat, manipulate and use their victims until they are useless. Once they are done with their victims, they discard them like used toilet tissue.
Unfortunately for our society, the semi-intelligent psychotics instinctively gravitate to positions of power where they use lies, flattery, fakery, fake empathy, false humility, disguised righteousness to advance above the good guys. These are the traits of seasoned narcissistic Nigerian politicians.
In ordinary occupations and professions, these self-centered lunatics can cause great harm to their employers and immediate contacts. When this happens, the larger society is often spared because they do not have the instrument of state to extend the frontiers of evil. Unfortunately for our society, the semi-intelligent psychotics instinctively gravitate to positions of power where they use lies, flattery, fakery, fake empathy, false humility, disguised righteousness to advance above the good guys. These are the traits of seasoned narcissistic Nigerian politicians.
In politics, the ultimate aim is to sell yourself to the majority. It is a game in which you are required to log a score over 50 percent. In a country where thieves, liars, conmen, thugs, pedophiles, militants, sponsors of terror and religious charlatans are celebrated, an honest man stands no chance in political games. The psychopath rises to top political positions more easily because he is gifted in the tools of the trade – deceit. If you are in any doubt, think Ekiti State and the tragedy of Fayose. All decent Ekiti people have taken refuge in Lagos. They ran! It is very difficult for a decent man to compete with someone who is willing to lie, cheat, steal, make empty promises, give bribes and kill just to win an election. Add to that, the domiciled problem of the political godfathers who are skilled at identifying, recruiting and developing the most promising psychopath in their game of thrones.
Exceptions do occur. Every once in a while, a normal person makes his way to the top tier. Once in a while, a good person gets political office, but those instances are rare. Very rare! We have 36 states in Nigeria, how many of the governors are normal? Is it the zealot who breaks beer bottles while 65 percent of school age children in his state are out of school? Or the governor who spent a fortune on a Christmas tree, while youths from his state troop to Lagos daily for lack of opportunities? The Senate under Bukola Saraki just went on a spending spree, buying exotic cars when workers in many states are owed up to five months salary. Is that normal? Is that what a normal person would do?
We have a public that will never rise up in righteous indignation against their evil oppressors. We have a public that can no longer define evil. We have a citizenry which cannot recognise evil. We have an electorate who are in love with their oppressors. A public that blames the victim. How did we get here? I don’t know! I do know that evil is contagious if not checked.
Where in such a mess because Nigerian political psychopaths are a federation. When psychopaths federate, their exponential evil can be overwhelming. Nigeria became a racket and a criminal enterprise because of the conspiracy of psychopaths. Conspiratorial activity is standard operating procedure in the league of political psychopaths. In his sociological masterpiece, Why Elites And Psychopaths Are Useless To Society, Brandon Smith wrote: “The problem is humanity is not only hardwired with a dark side; we are also hardwired with a conscience — at least, most of us are. All people are born with a shared moral compass that is often expressed in various religious works throughout the ages. It is a universal voice, or guide, that we can choose to listen to or to ignore. Organised psychopaths have struggled with the existence of this inborn compass for centuries.”
Our conscience is our weapon against multiplying psychopaths. From what we are seeing in the youth demographic, they have corrupted the youth and the children. Worse, we have a degenerate public which sees no evil, hears no evil. We have a public that will never rise up in righteous indignation against their evil oppressors. We have a public that can no longer define evil. We have a citizenry which cannot recognise evil. We have an electorate who are in love with their oppressors. A public that blames the victim. How did we get here? I don’t know! I do know that evil is contagious if not checked. In the words of Samuel Adams: “it is always observable, that those who are combined to destroy the people’s liberties, practice every Art to poison their morals.”
We can only rescue this country by claiming the moral high ground and mete out justice to evil doers. Let the consequences of crimes against the state be death, lengthy incarceration and institutionalisation in a psychiatric ward depending on the severity of the crime.
These psychopaths have poisoned almost two generations.
Nigeria is infested! The youths have learned from the old and they have become masters. If in doubt, check the bank scams that inundate your mailbox on a daily basis. We can only rescue this country by claiming the moral high ground and mete out justice to evil doers. Let the consequences of crimes against the state be death, lengthy incarceration and institutionalisation in a psychiatric ward depending on the severity of the crime.
Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú a farmer, youth advocate and political analyst writes this weekly column – “Bamidele Upfront” for Premium Times. Follow me on Twitter @olufunmilayo
