THE EAGLE MUST KEEP SOARING
Why attacks on Peter Obi may strengthen the very influence they seek to weaken
There is a popular story about the eagle and the crow. The crow perches on the eagle’s back and pecks relentlessly at its neck. Yet the eagle does not turn to fight. It simply spreads its wings and soars higher. As the altitude increases, the crow struggles to hold on and eventually falls away.
The lesson is simple: the eagle does not overcome the crow by fighting it but by rising above it.
Life is full of distractions, provocations and opposition. Not every attack deserves a response.
Sometimes, the most effective answer is to remain focused on the work that matters. As Bob Marley sang, ‘Every little action has a reaction.’
But wisdom lies in knowing which actions deserve a response and which are best ignored.
There is nothing wrong with political ambition. Every politician has the right to aspire to the presidency. But ambition should not become an excuse for hostility towards another person pursuing the same office.
What is troubling is the apparent belief that diminishing Obi’s influence will automatically strengthen their own prospects.
Political relevance, however, is not acquired by pulling another person down.
Obi has built a political reputation that attracts considerable public attention and support. Whether one agrees with his politics or not, his influence cannot simply be wished away through insults and allegations.
Indeed, such attacks may only amplify the very presence they seek to diminish.
The concern becomes more serious when political calculations appear to take precedence over the expectations of the people.
Governors owe their constituents responsible leadership and accountability. Their pursuit of higher office should not come at the expense of the public interest.
But disagreement is one thing; character assassination is another. One can oppose Obi’s ambition without resorting to personal attacks or spreading damaging allegations. One can support another candidate without turning political competition into a campaign of calumny.
Some politicians appear to believe that making another person’s political light dimmer will make their own shine brighter. Others may calculate that aligning themselves with powerful interests in Abuja will advance their ambitions. Yet political alliances and personal aspirations should never replace the responsibility to serve the people.
There is also a difference between quietly promoting one’s preferred candidate and publicly ridiculing every alternative. Political actors can pursue their ambitions without making themselves instruments of personal vendettas.
Peter Obi must also remain focused on his political engagement. His supporters should understand that every provocation does not require an angry response. A movement that allows its direction to be determined by its critics risks losing sight of its purpose.
Ultimately, the eagle does not need to fight every crow that perches on its back. It needs to keep its wings strong and its eyes fixed on the horizon.
For politicians who believe that pulling Peter Obi down will clear the path to their own ambitions, one question remains: What are they building for themselves while spending so much energy trying to bring another man down?
Okiwelu Azed P. writes from Asaba.
