03/10/2024
#𝗘𝗱𝗼𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: 𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲’𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
The recently concluded gubernatorial election in Edo State has stirred conversations nationwide. There’s a swirl of mixed emotions, from excitement to disappointment, and some even question the outcome’s legitimacy.
However, for me, this election is more than just politics; it is a mirror into life itself—where the path to victory is not always straight, but once won, it is ultimately crowned by divine approval.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬
In the concluded election, there were three major personalities with distinct characteristics. One candidate stood out for their intelligence, eloquence, and ability to connect with the masses—qualities that made them widely admired and seen as the frontrunner.
Another candidate brought extensive political experience to the table but lacked the charisma of the first. Despite this, they had the support of a well-oiled political machine, rooted in the grassroots.
The third candidate, though charismatic and well-spoken, was backed by a newer, less established political platform, making them perceived as less of a contender.
As the results rolled in, many were surprised when the second candidate—widely viewed as less charismatic and less favored by the public—emerged victorious. This led to widespread allegations that the election process was skewed, and some questioned whether the results reflected the will of the people. And yet, this brings us to a significant lesson: 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻.
𝐃𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐝, 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦) 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?
Across religions, philosophies, and cultures, this question has been deeply considered. The common theme is that while divine beings may not interfere directly, they do ultimately crown the winner.
In 𝐒𝐭. 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝, he postulated that while God governs the universe, earthly kingdoms belong to humans, and leadership comes through the exercise of human influence. Despite any perceived injustice, God still permits the outcome as part of a divine plan.
Similarly, in 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚, it was believed that God’s will operates through human decisions and actions—leadership emerges from both divine providence and human action.
In , the machinery of the second candidate was stronger and more organized. Whether or not the process was fair, victory was attained, and, in a way, the divine crowned the outcome.
In pagan mythology, especially in 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨-𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, gods were believed to have no direct access to the human world. Instead, they would imbue human agents with special cosmic (or spiritual) gifts to act on their behalf. This echoes the election scenario: one contender had eloquence and public support, but the machinery of another turned the tide. The gods may not step in directly, but they reward those who use the tools at their disposal.
In 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦, while leadership is considered divinely ordained, it still requires human effort and action. Rulers are expected to govern according to divine principles, but their rise to power often involves leveraging worldly systems and networks.
In , the lessons are clear: human influence and divine appointment are not mutually exclusive.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞: 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝
This election serves as a larger metaphor for life. In business, family, career, or education, success often comes to those who use every tool at their disposal. You may have natural gifts—intelligence, charisma, eloquence, or special cosmic (or spiritual) talents—but if you don’t leverage the necessary resources, you might not win.
However, it’s crucial to note: when we say to “do everything within your power to win,” it doesn't mean acting overboard or resorting to unethical means. Winning requires effort, strategy, and persistence, but integrity is essential. Achieving success through fair means ensures your victory stands the test of scrutiny.
As the Latin phrase goes, "𝐕𝐨𝐱 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐢, 𝐕𝐨𝐱 𝐃𝐞𝐢"—the voice of the people is the voice of God. However, the people’s voice may not always be positive or aligned with integrity. While the majority decides the outcome, the process matters. It’s not just about winning at all costs but doing so in a manner that honors fairness and the collective good.
People often ask, “Does the end justify the means?” This question reflects the tension between victory and the integrity of the process. The outcome may lose value when the means involve actions that compromise ethical boundaries or veer into desperation. Success that stems from unethical actions can be questioned, and society will demand answers. Thus, in striving to win, we must remain grounded and not act beyond reason.
However, once you do win, once you’ve achieved your goal—God crowns your victory.
People may argue about how you got there, whether it was fair or not, but the reality is that success is crowned only after the work.
The same tension exists in Christianity, where God allows human free will, stepping in only after key decisions have been made.
In Hinduism, divine beings may incarnate in human form, but it is the actions of those humans that restore balance to the world.
The common thread across these systems is this: human influence is necessary, but once victory is achieved, divine forces come in to bless the outcome.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗶𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂.
The election reminds us of the broader truth: in life, we must do all we can to succeed. However, we must be mindful of how we strive for victory. Fairness, integrity, and discipline are the pillars of sustainable success.
In the game of life, use whatever tools you have at your disposal to win, but stay grounded in ethical principles. When you finally win, God will crown you.
Whether in elections, business, career, or personal battles, your victory comes not from divine interference but from leveraging the tools you have, with integrity. Once you achieve that success, the divine will bless it, and you will be crowned.
Regardless of what people say—whether the process was fair or not—what matters is that you won. However, let your victory be one that can stand the test of scrutiny, with fairness and honesty at its core.
In the end, what counts is that you emerge victorious, and once you do, divine forces will crown you, ensuring that your victory stands firm.
𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲!
-Ugwuozor Austine
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫:
𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮, 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮.
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