By Omotayo Rotimi
In today’s political landscape, loyalty has become one of the most misused words. Many wear it as a badge of honour, yet few understand its true meaning. Loyalty, when detached from principle, ceases to be a virtue; it becomes a tool of manipulation and self-interest.
True political loyalty is not blind allegiance to a person, party, or position. It is rooted in conviction, guided by values, and sustained by integrity. A principled politician stands with leaders when they are right and speaks against them when they derail from the path of justice. Anything less is sycophancy disguised as loyalty.
When loyalty is not anchored in principle, it becomes like a ship without a compass — always drifting, swayed by the wind of convenience and the tide of personal gain. Such loyalty breeds corruption, weakens institutions, and undermines the trust that democracy depends on.
Nigeria’s democratic journey has shown that the most enduring leaders are not those who demanded loyalty, but those who earned it through character, vision, and service. The future of our politics depends on a new generation that understands this — that real loyalty is not to individuals, but to the ideals that build nations.
As citizens, as leaders, and as followers, we must constantly ask ourselves: What guides my loyalty — principle or position?
For when the compass of conscience is lost, the voyage of politics becomes directionless.
