The Illusion Of Power: How politics praises you into loneliness
By Sam Agogo
Not long ago, I visited a politician who once sat at the height of influence, a man whose words once shaped decisions, whose presence stirred fear and reverence in equal measure.
His compound used to be a fortress of activity: endless convoys, armed guards, political loyalists, sycophants, and praise singers who chanted his name as though he were a deity. His home overflowed with visitors, with noise, with ambition, with people who needed something.
But on this particular day, what greeted me was silence, cold, heavy, unforgiving silence.
The once-bustling compound stood empty. No police escorts. No convoys. No political “boys.” The man who once commanded attention now sat quietly, stripped of the noise that once defined him. Power had slipped away. And with it, the crowd.
That moment preached a sermon, one louder and clearer than any pulpit could deliver. It reminded me that politics is not loyalty; it is appetite. It is not friendship; it is convenience. It is not love; it is strategy wrapped in smiles.
In politics, when the power fades, the people fade with it. When the money dries up, the loyalty evaporates.
Step out of office, and those who once called you “leader” will suddenly become too busy to answer your calls. Politics massages the ego, deceives the heart, and drains the soul of those who mistake applause for affection.
I have met men who once commanded wealth, influence, and unquestioned authority, men whose names shook meeting rooms. Today, some cannot feed themselves. Some wander from office to office, begging their former subordinates for assistance. Others live in quiet humiliation, ignored by the same people who once groveled before them.
A friend once told me about a former National Assembly member he spotted sitting quietly inside a public bus, anonymous, forgotten, a shadow of his former self.
Another narrated how a once-dreaded political strongman now goes from door to door begging his former aides, the very people who once saluted him with trembling respect.
That is the cruelty of politics: it exalts you today and abandons you tomorrow.
One story still hurts deeply. A wealthy man, known for his generosity, poured his entire fortune into politics.
He was hailed, praised, and deceived into believing he was truly loved. But when he lost his political relevance, he lost everything. His wealth vanished.
His support system crumbled. And when sickness came, it was one of the men he once looked down upon who gave him money for treatment.
This is the tragedy of political power — it praises you into pride and deserts you in your darkest hour.
To every politician reading this, consider this a warning: power is temporary, and political loyalty is a loan that expires the moment your influence does.
Do not waste your life chasing the approval of a crowd that will abandon you when your season ends. Do not allow a political office to become your only identity.
While you serve, build something for yourself. Create businesses. Learn new skills. Invest wisely. Prepare for the day when the sirens will go silent and the praise singers will find a new champion.
Because politics will drain you if you let it. It will empty your pockets, steal your peace, inflate your ego, and then leave you stranded. Serve honourably, but guard your humanity. Power will go. Applause will fade.
The crowd will disappear. And when the music stops, you will be left alone, confronted by the person you truly are.
When the crowd disappears, what will remain of you? A legacy , or just memories of wasted years? The choice is yours.
For reflection, comments, and further conversation:
📩 Email: samuelagogo4one@yahoo.com
📞 Phone: +234 805 584 7364
