Former federal lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani has sparked fresh debate after issuing a stern warning to those in authority, saying power often blinds leaders to its temporary nature.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the outspoken politician reflected on how public office can intoxicate those who wield it, urging leaders to remember that authority is never permanent.
Sani wrote that some individuals become “inebriated by the weapons of authority at their disposal” once they assume office. According to him, access to state power, including the ability to arrest, detain or threaten, can create a false sense of invincibility.
He warned that such leaders begin “thinking and arrogantly behaving like gods,” forgetting what happened to those who held power before them. In his view, many become blind to history and dismiss the idea that their tenure could one day end.
The former senator added that when power eventually “slips out of their hands,” the same individuals become vulnerable and helpless.
He noted that they often turn to the rule of law for protection, despite having shown little respect for it while in office.
Sani also criticised what he described as a “forgiving and forgetful society,” arguing that such an environment allows former leaders to regain sympathy even after alleged abuse of power.
He concluded that this cycle tragically enables “evil men” to escape lasting accountability when their moment of reckoning arrives.
