By Hon. Kenneth Gbandi
History teaches us a humbling truth: even the strongest among men are fragile. Power is fleeting, strength is temporary, and time unyielding and impartial eventually touches us all. The recent stumbles of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his official visit to Turkey are a stark reminder of this reality. They are not moments to celebrate but to reflect upon the humanity behind the office.
Old age is meant to be a blessing, not a curse. It is a season that demands respect, empathy, and wisdom. Every leader who has shaped history whether in the corridors of power or on distant battlefields has, at some point, seen the body betray the will. The mighty do fall, and in their fall lies a lesson: leadership is human, and humanity is fragile.
What we owe President Tinubu is prayer, prayer for good health, prayer for clarity, and above all, prayer for the wisdom to recognize that the soul may remain willing, but the body is saying its time to go.
This concern is made all the more urgent by the pattern we cannot ignore: the repeated trips to France for medical attention, coupled with constant official denials. When facts are quietly dismissed or softened for public consumption, the result is not reassurance but uncertainty. Denial may shield appearances, but it cannot shield a nation from reality. To love one’s country is to demand truth, and to demand truth is not disloyalty, it is patriotism.
Nigeria today risks more than a leader’s stumble; it risks allowing those around power to decide what is true and what is hidden. A cabal that benefits from a prolonged stay in office may shield a leader from reality, but it cannot shield the nation from the consequences. Awareness of the leader’s physical and mental health is not a sign of weakness, it is a civic duty.
Across the world, societies grapple with the same questions. In the United States, scrutiny over a leader’s stamina, age, and well-being has never been taboo. It is accountability, not cruelty. Nigeria must embrace the same maturity: to honor a leader is also to confront the truth about his capacity to serve effectively.
Leadership is not solely about ambition; it is also about discernment. There is dignity in service, but there is equal dignity in knowing when to step aside. There is honor in continuing, but there is wisdom in choosing rest time to enjoy family, grandchildren, reflection, and the quieter joys that power so often delays.
Old age, when rightly embraced, crowns a life of service with peace. Denial, pride, or concealment only turn blessing into burden. May Nigerians never mistake silence for loyalty, or mockery for patriotism. And may wisdom guide both the leader and the led, so that the nation may prosper not only under the watch of the mighty, but also in the honesty of shared truth.
Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi is a Diaspora Leader, Policy Strategist, Media Executive. Former senatorial candidate, and long-standing diaspora diplomat known for championing transparent governance, democratic reforms, and citizens’ participation
