In the last few days, a video of former United States President, Jimmy Carter went viral and has been trending on social media. In the short clip, the ex-United States leader who was marking his centenary birthday is seen on a wheelchair as family members surrounded him in the family home garden. No doubt, God Almighty has been gracious to former President Jimmy Carter as he marked that historic milestone. Not many in the world get to see their 100th birthday. In his heydays, President Carter was ostensibly the most powerful man on this planet, earth (as most American Presidents are referred to). The Americans pride themselves as God’s own country and a superpower in the world geopolitical order.

As the grand centenarian was wheeled into the garden, his spatial awareness dimmed by old age and strength fading, it dawned on me yet again the fleeting nature of our sojourn here on this terraqueous (to borrow the words of famed cerebral garb, Reverend Chris Okotie). We are all mortals. None of us is immortal. Time certainly catches up with each one of us somehow someday. As I pondered on these things, my instincts hovering around, my thoughts wandered to the recently concluded Edo State Governorship election held on 21st September 2024. The outcome of the highly contested poll in the ‘heartbeat of Nigeria’ has thrown up a lot of conjecture both within and outside the state. Fast forward to 12th November 2024, a new era beckons as the Governor-Elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo aka Akpakomiza is set to take the reins of power.

The import of this transition is the fact that the incumbent leader, Governor Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP will be handing over to a rival political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. The outgoing Governor I am sure did not envisage this scenario or even if he did could not have imagined it would happen. As the incumbent (although not on the ballot) himself, the Edo state strongman (Ematon) had primed his political godson and friend of 40 years, Dr Asue Ighodalo as his successor. Like the speed of light, the eight years of Governor Obaseki is reaching its climax. In a jiffy, November 2016 - November 2024 is almost done and dusted. Again ‘Father Time is Undefeated’ like the extremely, technically gifted pugilist, and reigning, undefeated, undisputed boxing champion of the world, Oleksandr Usyk.

There are lessons to be learnt. Political power is transient and in fact power of any kind is short lived. History tells us that even the best or worst of dictators were eventually shoved aside by Father Time. In countries where the monarchy is still in vogue, even Father Time catches up with Kings and Queens. We saw that few years ago with the passing of the Saudi Arabian monarch King Abdullah bin Abdullaziz at the ripe age of 90 in January 2015. In 2022, United Arab Emirates Monarch, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayad passed on aged, 73. Bringing it closer home to the United Kingdom and the Benin Kingdom, the revered monarch of England, Queen Elizabeth II passed on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96 while our beloved Oba Erediauwa went to be with our ancestors on the 29th of April 2016 at the ripe old age of 92 years. 

To bring this lesson of time being undefeated closer home, let us zone in on events I noticed from watching the televised funeral service of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. During the proceedings, the presiding Bishop then uttered the words, “remember O Lord thy servant Elizabeth who has gone before us. There was the sombre moment when the Imperial State Crown, orb and sceptre was removed by the crown jeweller. The Lord Chamberlain also "broke" his `wand of office` and placed it on the coffin. Following that, her coffin was lowered via the vault for committal. Note how the presiding Bishop removed her designation (titles, insignia) and referred to her simply as our sister, Elizabeth. In that moment, I was dazed and the evergreen words of the writer in the Biblical book of Ecclesiastics, “vanity upon vanity, all is vanity rammed through my ears.

For the current political leaders in Nigeria, it is time they realise that power is ephemeral. No one stays in power forever. About two years ago, a message was going around on WhatsApp. In it, was the list of our political leaders in the 2nd republic (1979 - 1983). If you watched the NTA news or read the Daily Times Newspaper in that era, these powerful men were the headline makers. They called the shots. In that list we had in the Presidency, Alhaji Shehu Shagari (dead), Vice President: Dr Alex Ekwueme (dead). In the National Assembly; Senate President: Dr. Joseph Wayas (dead), Senate Leader: Dr. Olusola Saraki (dead), Speaker of House of Reps: Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (dead). The 19 State Governors; 1 Balarabe Musa - Kaduna (dead), 2.Abubakar Barde - Gongola(dead),3.Abubakar Rimi - Kano (dead),4.Abubakar Tatari Ali - Bauchi (dead), 5. Adamu Attah - Kwara (dead), Ambrose Alli - Bendel (dead), 8. Aper Aku - Benue (dead), 8. Auwal Ibrahim - Niger (Alive),9. Bola Ige - Oyo (dead), 10.,BisiOnabanjo - Ogun (dead), 11. Clement Isong - Cross River (dead), 12. Jim Nwobodo - Enugu (alive), 13. LateefJakande - Lagos (dead), 14. Melford Okilo- Rivers (dead), 15. Michael Ajasin - Ondo (dead), 16. Muhammadu Goni - Borno(dead), 17. Sam Mbakwe - Imo (dead), 18. Shehu Kangiwa - Sokoto (dead), 19. Solomon Lar - Plateau (dead). This is just 45 years ago and only two of these great men - Chief Jim Nwobodo who is 84 years old now and Alhaji Auwal Ibrahim who is 83 years old are alive today. The others are no more on this terrestrial and no longer make news. May the souls of all the faithful departed continue to rest in perfect peace.

Herein lies the life lessons. No matter our station, position or accomplishments in the journey of life, all that really matter is the legacy we leave behind. The material resources – houses, cars, private jets, local and foreign currency in bank accounts, gold and silver acquired are immaterial. They are fleeting. On his death bed in Babylon in the year 323 BC at the age of 32, Alexander the Great summoned his Generals and told them his three ultimate wishes: 1. The best doctors should carry his coffin; 2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones etc.) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery; and 3. His hands should be let loose, hanging outside the coffin for all to see! One of his Generals, who was surprised by these unusual requests, asked Alexander to explain. Alexander the Great replied; “I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that, in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to save you. I want the road to be covered with my treasures so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, stays on earth. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is TIME. We do not take to the grave any material wealth, although our good deeds can be our travellers’ cheques. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time”. Alexander the Great wanted to show the emptiness of life as he sojourned to Elysium.

Be you a parent, a school head, business executive, public servant, security chief, community or religious leader, local council chairman, legislator, commissioner, cabinet minister, head of parastatal, electoral officer, state governor, magistrate/judge, student/trade union leader, or a president; please let this message sink in – we are all nothing but pencils in the hands of the creator. In our daily living and discharge of our duties, what really counts is the positive impact we make in the lives of others and the society. The question we must ask ourselves daily is where are we leaving our foot prints? Are we leaving them in the hearts and souls of men and women? The hearts and souls of our fellow humans are the indelible 'sands of time'. That is where we must leave our footprints. Therefore, wanton accumulation of ill-gotten wealth is anathema (abomination) to the natural order of leaving one's footprints in the sands of time.

Mother Theresa is one lesson in time we can learn in the department of attempting to defy time. There are other examples in our local and global communities across faiths and geographical boundaries who share Mother Theresa's relational currency, sacrificial service and dedication to humanity. Time is a precious commodity. In the words of Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.” Similarly, Isaac Watts wisely counselled that, “Time is a file that wears and makes no noise." The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius once posited, "Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away." In the final analysis, the take home from all of these is and will remain forever, Father Time is undefeated.

Dr Agbons is Lead, Institute of Good Governance and Leadership @www.twin2.org