By Cliff Stanley
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi
Politics in every democracy is built on debate. Opposition is an essential pillar of democratic governance because it keeps leaders accountable and encourages better decision-making. However, there is an important distinction between constructive criticism and criticism driven by political blackmail. When opposition is based on sentiment rather than evidence, it weakens democracy instead of strengthening it.
The recent debates surrounding the nomination of Alh. Ali Isa as the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in Borno State have once again raised an important question: Should political appointments be judged by competence and service, or by political calculations and personal interests?
This question goes beyond one individual. It speaks to the quality of leadership Nigeria needs as the country continues to face insecurity, humanitarian emergencies, economic challenges and climate-related disasters.
Political philosopher John Stuart Mill argued that “the worth of a state, in the long run, is the worth of the individuals composing it.” Democracies become stronger when they reward competence rather than political patronage.
From every available public record, Ali Isa’s nomination appears to be rooted more in his years of humanitarian service, administrative experience and crisis management than in conventional political calculations.
For many years, Borno State has remained the epicentre of Nigeria’s insurgency. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), millions of people across North-East Nigeria have been displaced by conflict, while thousands continue to depend on humanitarian assistance for survival.
Working within this difficult environment requires courage, technical knowledge and emotional resilience.
Those familiar with humanitarian operations in Borno recall Ali Isa’s involvement in coordinating relief interventions in difficult locations such as Dikwa, Kala-Balge, Monguno, Marte and several hard-to-reach communities where floods and insurgency combined to create humanitarian emergencies.
During severe flooding that affected many communities, humanitarian workers often travelled by boats and spent several days reaching isolated villages to deliver food, medical supplies and emergency assistance. Such operations were frequently conducted under significant security risks.
Reports over the years have shown that humanitarian workers operating in Borno have faced repeated attacks from insurgent groups. Some have lost their lives while delivering assistance to vulnerable populations. Serving under such conditions requires exceptional commitment.
These experiences distinguish humanitarian leadership from conventional political office.
As Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer once observed:
”The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.
Leadership is ultimately measured by service.
Unfortunately, much of the criticism following Ali Isa’s nomination has focused more on political permutations than on his professional record.
Constructive opposition is healthy. Democracy benefits when citizens ask difficult questions and demand accountability. However, criticism should always be evidence based.
If there are concerns about integrity, competence or public conduct, they should be supported with verifiable facts. Personal attacks, political resentment and ethnic or factional sentiments contribute little to democratic development.
Political scientist Robert Dahl, one of the world’s leading scholars on democracy, argued that democracy depends not only on elections but also on informed public participation and rational public debate.
Nigeria deserves that standard.
The APC’s decision also reflects the importance of balancing political leadership with technocratic experience.
Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has consistently built his administration around reconstruction, humanitarian recovery, education and infrastructure after years of insurgency. His choice of a running mate appears consistent with that governing philosophy.
The governor equally deserves recognition for prioritising competence while consulting widely with political leaders, traditional institutions and critical stakeholders across Borno State, including respected leaders from Biu, whose support contributed to building consensus within the party.
Consensus-building remains one of the strongest foundations of democratic politics.
Political stability often emerges when leaders combine consultation with decisive leadership.
Ali Isa’s background in humanitarian response also complements the developmental priorities of a state still rebuilding communities destroyed by conflict.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has repeatedly emphasised that post-conflict societies require leaders who understand recovery, resilience, peacebuilding and institutional coordination.
These are practical skills developed through years of field experience rather than campaign rhetoric.
The debate surrounding this nomination should therefore encourage Nigerians to reconsider how political leadership is evaluated.
Should leadership be determined primarily by political networking?
Or should demonstrated service, courage and competence carry greater weight?
History suggests that societies make lasting progress when merit becomes the primary criterion for public office.
Singapore’s transformation under Lee Kuan Yew, Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery and several successful democracies demonstrate that institutions become stronger when capable individuals are entrusted with leadership responsibilities.
This does not imply that any public official should be beyond criticism.
No leader is perfect.
Every public office holder must remain accountable to the people.
However, accountability should be based on performance, transparency and measurable outcomes not rumours, political bitterness or elite rivalry.
If critics believe there are better alternatives, democratic culture demands that they present those alternatives with evidence and reasoned arguments.
Healthy opposition improves governance.
Performative opposition merely generates noise.
As Nigeria prepares for another electoral cycle, citizens must resist the temptation to reduce every political decision to ethnic arithmetic, personal loyalty or factional competition.
The future of democratic governance depends on rewarding integrity, competence and proven public service.
Ali Isa’s nomination should therefore be judged by the values he represents and, ultimately, by the quality of service he renders if elected.
The people of Borno and indeed Nigerians deserve leaders whose records demonstrate courage under pressure, compassion during humanitarian crises and commitment to public service.
Only time will determine the full impact of this political decision.
But if democracy is to mature, merit must increasingly triumph over prejudice, and service must speak louder than political noise.
“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
