Reasons political leaders fail their followers

Why Political Leaders Fail Their Followers

Political leaders hold a significant amount of power in shaping the direction of a society, yet time and again, we see instances where these leaders fail to meet the expectations and needs of their followers.

The reasons behind the failures of political leaders are multifaceted. They include a deep disconnect from everyday realities, unfulfilled promises, party interest, a growing sense of accountability, inadequate communication, stolen mandate, godfatherism, and prioritization of personal agendas over public welfare.

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The aforementioned factors that results into the political failures of leaders are explained below:

• Lack of Accountability

The lack of accountability can enable leaders to fail without consequence, furthering the cycle of disappointment among their followers.

When political leaders are not held responsible for their actions, whether due to a lack of transparency or systemic issues within governing institutions, it becomes easy for them to sidestep their duties.

For instance, in many countries, leaders have faced scandals or corruption allegations, but resignations are rare, and consequences are often non-existent. This not only breeds distrust among citizens but also cultivates an environment where political leaders can act without fear of repercussions.

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• Political Godfathers

This is another salient reason why some leaders fail to protect the interest of their followers.

Godfatherism is a term primarily used in Nigeria. It refers to a form of political corruption in which a powerful and influential individual handpicks another person (who is often politically unpopular, and also a lesser influential candidate,) in order to attain political victory during elections. The political godfathers typically do this after utilizing their full term limits in office.

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Since humongous amounts of money are spent by political godfathers during electioneering campaigns, agreements are reached; thus somewhat distracting their  political nominee from fulfilling his/her campaign promises when elected.

An example was seen in a Nigeria where a sitting governor of a state accused his political godfather of excessive control of his government. Apart from this, he also accused the political godfather of demanding the sum of 2,000,000,000 naira monthly from the government coffers. Further more, he stated that most of his political appointees were handpicked by his godfather, further creating a troubled tenure to his government. As a result, the people suffered from this rancour of both political gladiators.

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In situations where there isn't rancour between political godfather and a sitting governor; then some percentage of monies meant for state development may have been diverted into the pockets of the political godfather in order to maintain peace.

• Inability of leaders to fulfill their campaign promises

Politicians often make grand promises to secure votes, but once elected, pressures from lobbyists, party lines, or even personal interests can derail their original intentions.

A notable example is the promise of comprehensive climate action made by several leaders during their campaigns. Once in office, many of these politicians faced pushback from industries that are detrimental to the environment and chose to prioritize economic growth over the urgent need for sustainability. This not only disappoints voters, but can lead to long-term environmental and societal consequences.

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• Gaining political office without the people's mandate

In various instances, we have had political personnels who assumed office without the peoples mandate. They do this by manipulating election results, or through force; violence and bloodshed, as seen in military regimes. As a result, some of these officers become dictators, caring for themselves, their families and friends alone.

An example was seen in an African country where a military leader looted his country's money and treasures. To this day, the revovery of his loot is ongoing. Unfortunately, the value of money he looted is not known, even though they had recovered billions of dollars from his loot.

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• Party Interest

Political aspirants in a democratic government will always belong to a political party; and such party typically has its own leaders. In this regard, some political leaders may fail to protect the interest of their followers as a result of party intetest. Such political officers are put under pressure to carry out the biddings of its powerful party leaders.

An instance of party interest occurred in a Nigerian state. The powerful members of a polical party picked one of its members for a governorship role during their primaries. They eventually won the general election, thus gaining control of the state. Now, the governor after assuming office was frustrated by his party leaders since he couldn't fulfil their biddings; and consequently, couldn't do much for the people. This governor eventually served only one term, after which he lost his party's primaries in the subsequently election.

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• Barriers to Honest Communication

Barriers to honest communication play a crucial role in the failure of political leaders. In an age of misinformation and constant media scrutiny, leaders must navigate a complex landscape to connect with their constituents authentically. When they fail to communicate effectively, misunderstandings can lead to disillusionment among followers.

Political leaders should strive to engage in transparent dialogues, listening to feedback and adapting to the community's needs rather than merely broadcasting their agendas.

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• Power Intoxication

Political leaders can become increasingly absorbed in their power, creating a chasm between themselves and the electorate.

A classic example can be found in leaders who enter office with idealistic visions, but become part of the "establishment," focusing more on maintaining their position than on serving the people. Leaders like this often lead with rhetoric rather than genuine action, where public speeches become mere theatrical performances rather than commitments to progress.

The above phenomenon is evident in many parliamentary systems where elected officials become more concerned with public relations than real issues, resulting in hollow promises and policies that fail to address the needs of their constituents.

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• Disconnect from realities faced by followers

One of the main reasons political leaders fail is their disconnect from the realities faced by the citizens they are supposed to represent.

For instance, consider a politician who campaigns on a platform of improving healthcare but, once in office, seems more focused on wealthier donors than addressing the needs of everyday people. This was exemplified by the infamous case of a governor who, while advocating for educational reform, was later found to have funneled school funding to private institutions that benefitted his business partners. Such actions not only betray public trust, but also exacerbate existing inequalities in education.

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To build a better relationship between leaders and their followers, both parties must strive for transparency, engagement, and genuine service to the community. Only then can trust and progress be restored in our political systems.