Don't destroy the same member of same political family with you. Politics is not war. Here are 7 reasons why destroying your own party member will destroy you too.
Don't destroy the same member of same political family with you. Politics is a family, not a war. When you destroy your own brother because of ticket, appointment, or ambition, you are not winning - you are cutting the branch you are sitting on.
*DON'T DESTROY THE SAME MEMBER OF SAME POLITICAL FAMILY WITH YOU*
In every party - APC, PDP, LP, ADC, NNPP - the same story repeats. Two members from the same ward, same local government, same political family start fighting. One goes to write petition. One goes to sponsor fake news. One goes to block the other from getting appointment. One goes to tell outsiders the secrets of the house.
At the end, both lose. And the opposition laughs.
If you are in politics, read this well and keep it in your heart.
*7 REASONS WHY YOU MUST NOT DESTROY YOUR OWN POLITICAL BROTHER*
*1. Tomorrow You Will Need Him*
Politics is a circle. The person you destroy today is the person you will need tomorrow for delegate, for vote, for witness, for mobilisation, for support. The man you call enemy today may be your campaign DG tomorrow. Don't burn a bridge you will still cross.
*2. You Are Advertising Your Family's Weakness To Outsiders*
When you fight your own member in public, the opposition does not need to campaign against you again. You have done their job for them. You have told the world: "We are not united. We cannot be trusted." Voters don't vote for a divided house.
*3. The Wound You Create Never Heals Fully*
You may apologise later, but the screenshot, the petition, the video, the insult will remain. In politics, people forgive, but they don't forget. The scar you give your brother today will follow both of you for years.
*4. Power Is Temporary, Relationship Is Permanent*
Ticket is for 4 years. Appointment is for 4 years. But your political family is for life. You will leave office, but you will still meet that same person in market, in church, in mosque, in burial, in wedding. Don't trade permanent relationship for temporary power.
*5. When You Destroy One, You Weaken All*
If you pull down a chairman, a councillor, a youth leader, or a woman leader from your own party, you have not only pulled down one person. You have weakened the whole structure in that ward. The polling unit will suffer. The party will suffer. And you will suffer too when election comes.
*6. The Enemy You Create Inside Is More Dangerous Than The Enemy Outside*
An outside enemy you know. An inside enemy knows your secrets, your weaknesses, your plans. When you destroy your own member, you create an inside enemy who will use everything he knows against you. That is how parties collapse from inside.
*7. God And History Are Watching*
Politics ends, but your name remains. People will remember not how much you fought, but how you treated your own people when you had power. Leaders who lift their own members are remembered. Leaders who destroy their own members are abandoned when power leaves them.
*ADVICE: WHAT TO DO INSTEAD OF DESTROYING EACH OTHER*
*1. Settle It Inside, Not On Social Media*
If your brother offends you, call him. Meet him. Invite elders. Don't go to Facebook, WhatsApp status, or radio to wash dirty linen in public. What is settled inside stays inside. What is exposed outside destroys everybody.
*2. Compete, Don't Kill*
It is okay to contest for same ticket. It is okay to have ambition. But compete with ideas, with mobilisation, with track record - not with blackmail, petition, and character assassination. Let the better person win, and let the loser still be respected.
*3. Share The Table*
Politics is not winner-takes-all in a family. If you win the ticket, carry your brother along. Give him a role. If you get appointment, remember those who stood with you. A leader who eats alone will soon eat alone in opposition.
*4. Control Your Supporters*
Many fights are not started by the leaders, but by their overzealous supporters. Warn your boys. Tell them: "Don't insult my brother for me." If your supporters are destroying your political family, you are responsible.
*5. Forgive Quickly, Move Forward*
In politics, you must have a short memory for offence and a long memory for loyalty. Forgive. Reconcile. Rebuild. The party that forgives quickly wins quickly.
*6. Remember The Bigger Enemy Is Outside*
Your real opponent is not your party member. Your real opponent is poverty, bad roads, unemployment, insecurity in your community. Face the outside enemy together, don't face each other.
*A MESSAGE TO PARTY LEADERS, ELDERS, AND YOUTHS*
To elders: Don't take sides to destroy one child to favour another. Be fathers to all. Settle, don't scatter.
To youths: Don't allow politicians to use you to destroy your own brother for N50,000. Tomorrow, they will settle and you will be left with the shame.
To women leaders: Be the mothers of the party. Where men want to fight, bring peace.
To everybody: If your political family is divided, you are already defeated before election day.
*CONCLUSION*
Don't destroy the same member of same political family with you.
You may win the fight today, but you will lose the war tomorrow.
Build your brother, and he will build you. Lift your sister, and she will lift you. Protect your family, and your family will protect you.
In politics, unity is power. Division is suicide.
Choose unity.
