Politics: The Art of Many Faces, One Story.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

When Mr. Olamilekan, a close friend also known as Baba Elizabeth asked me, “What is politics and do you understand how it works?” my mind did not run to the classroom definitions from textbooks. Instead, I remembered a true life story about Jacob, a Russian Jew who emigrated to Israel. His experience captured politics in its purest form; ONE STORY, THREE AUDIENCES, THREE MEANINGS and ONE ULTIMATE ADVANTAGE.

At Moscow airport, Jacob was questioned about carrying a statue of Lenin. To the Russian customs officer, he described LENIN as a NATIONAL HERO who laid the FOUNDATION of SOCIALISM; an answer that FLATTERED SOVIET IDEOLOGY. At Tel Aviv airport, facing Israeli officers, Jacob described LENIN as the very man who PERSECUTED JEWS, forcing him to flee; a completely opposite narrative that RESONATED with ISRAEL’S POLITICAL HISTORY. Finally, in his new Tel Aviv home, Jacob revealed the true meaning: the STATUE was NOTHING but FIVE KILOGRAMS of SOLID GOLD, smuggled past CUSTOMS as POLITICAL THEATER.

That, in essence, is POLITICS. It is the art of telling the same story in different ways, to different audiences for different benefits. Politics is not always about TRUTH, but about PERCEPTION. It is not about CONSISTENCY, but about ADAPTABILITY. And as Machiavelli once wrote in The Prince (1532): “A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.”

This story is more than a CLEVER ANECDOTE. It is a mirror reflecting the contradictions, manipulations and strategies that define political life across the world.

Defining Politics Beyond the Textbook.
Aristotle called politics “the master science” because it determines how societies are organized, governed and directed. Max Weber, the German sociologist, famously defined politics as “the striving to share power or striving to influence the distribution of power, either among states or among groups within a state.”

In reality, politics is not only about institutions, constitutions or elections; it is about narratives. The power of storytelling, framing and persuasion often outweighs the power of policies or ideologies. A politician who can bend one story to fit three audiences, just as Jacob did, can control hearts, minds and eventually, resources.

The Power of Narratives in Politics.
From ancient Rome to modern-day democracies, the ability to tell stories that adapt to circumstances has defined great political figures. Julius Caesar was not just a general but also a master of propaganda, writing Commentarii de Bello Gallico not for military records but to sway Roman citizens and the Senate in his favor.

In the United States, Abraham Lincoln could speak of freedom and unity in the North while subtly assuring border states that emancipation was gradual; a political balancing act that kept the Union together. Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign slogan, “Yes, we can,” was not policy; it was narrative. It spoke differently to minorities, liberals, youth and even moderate conservatives, yet carried one story of hope.

Politics, therefore, is never just about ideology. It is about packaging ideology to suit different ears. ~ George O. Sylvester

The Nigerian Example: One Nation, Many Stories.
In Nigeria, politics is practiced as a theater of narratives, where politicians tell different stories depending on whether they are in Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt or Enugu. A politician campaigning in the North may wrap his speeches with religious undertones, while in the South, the same politician may emphasize economic empowerment.

As Chinua Achebe warned in his classic The Trouble with Nigeria (1983): “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”

Leadership failure often comes not from incompetence alone, but from the dangerous art of tailoring narratives for political survival rather than national progress. Politicians, like Jacob, often present themselves as patriots in Abuja, tribal champions in their villages and reformers in foreign conferences; all while smuggling their “SOLID GOLD” in the form of power and wealth.

Politics as DECEPTION or DIPLOMACY?
One may ask: is politics merely deception? Not entirely. Politics is also Diplomacy, the art of managing conflicting interests without descending into chaos. Yet the line between DIPLOMACY and DECEPTION is thin.

Philosopher Hannah Arendt, in her book Truth and Politics (1967), wrote: “No one has ever doubted that truth and politics are on rather bad terms with each other.”

This tension is why politicians must shape-shift. To survive, they must speak the language their audience wants to hear, even if it contradicts what they said yesterday, survival does not always mean progress. A politics built on deception may buy short-term gains but risks long-term collapse.

The Global Stage: Politics Without Borders.
The Jacob story also reflects geopolitics. Nations, like individuals, tell different stories to different audiences.

Russia, for instance, presents itself domestically as a protector of traditional values, while abroad it claims to be resisting Western imperialism.

China promotes itself in Africa as a partner for development, but in the West, it markets itself as an emerging superpower advocating multipolarity.

The United States sells democracy abroad while tolerating political polarization at home.

The art is the same: one statue, many stories, hidden gold beneath.

When Politics Becomes Dangerous.
The danger of politics lies in its ability to manipulate people into believing what suits the political class, not society. In Jacob’s story, the customs officers in Moscow and Tel Aviv were both deceived. They allowed the statue to pass because each believed the narrative they wanted to hear.

This mirrors how citizens can be deceived. A politician promises jobs to the unemployed, subsidies to the poor, tax cuts to the rich and reforms to the international community. In reality, he carries only “GOLD” for himself.

George Orwell, in Politics and the English Language (1946), warned: “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”

In Nigeria, promises of stable electricity, reduced corruption and food security have been recycled for decades. Yet power outages remain constant, corruption thrives and food insecurity deepens. The stories change, the gold remains hidden.

Politics and the Citizen: How Do We Respond?

If politics is storytelling, then citizens must become critical listeners. Blindly accepting political narratives without scrutiny is what allows politicians to smuggle their gold. Democracy thrives only when citizens interrogate leaders’ words with facts.

Nelson Mandela once said: “A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy.”

The media, civil society and the people must force leaders to reconcile their different stories into one consistent truth. Otherwise, politics will remain a circus where one man plays three characters while the audience applauds without realizing the trick.

Final Analysis: Politics as the Art of Many Faces.
Politics is not merely about governance, laws or elections. It is about narratives; crafted, bent and reshaped for survival and advantage. Like Jacob with his LENIN STATUE, politicians tell different stories to different audiences while concealing their real treasure.

The challenge of our time is to DEMAND AUTHENTICITY. Politics may always involve some degree of persuasion, but persuasion must not become deception. Nations collapse when politics becomes only about stories without substance. As Abraham Lincoln wisely declared: “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

Jacob fooled customs officers with his statue. Politicians may fool citizens with their narratives. In the end, truth has a way of emerging and when it does, history judges harshly.

Politics is, indeed, the art of many face; but citizens must insist that at least one of those faces is honest.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE OF CHINEDU NSOFOR (CEO, WORK WHILE IN SCHOOL GROUP)

Chinedu Nsofor is a dynamic and seasoned technocrat, a visionary social worker, an International Development Expert, and an accomplished programmes development and management expert with over 15 years of diverse professional experience. He is a trailblazer in youth empowerment, job creation, and social innovation, renowned for his creative problem-solving skills and unmatched ability to transform challenges into sustainable opportunities.

With a strong academic foundation—holding a B.Sc. in Social Work from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and an M.Sc. in Social Work (Industrial Social Welfare) from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso—he combines intellectual depth with practical expertise. His distinguished career reflects his unwavering commitment to tackling unemployment in Nigeria, a mission he has pursued through pioneering initiatives such as the Work While in School Programmes, the IMOFINTEC project for 5,000 youths, and several other impactful programmes across tertiary institutions, government bodies, and international organizations.

Recognized as a versatile project management expert, innovative business development strategist, creative writer, professional biographer, media consultant, and Wikipedian, Nsofor’s influence extends across social, economic, and academic spheres. His professional track record includes leadership roles in reputable organizations such as the Nigeria Association of Economists, Global Coalition for Sustainable Environment, Iwuanyanwu Foundation, the Imo State Government Committee on Science and Technology Roadmap (2020–2030), and Asia Pacific Sports International, where he has served as Nigeria’s Programmes Director.

Heiss is also currently the Country Director (Nigeria), RapidHeal International, a health intervention firm with its global headquarters in Malaysia. Beyond his rich portfolio, he is celebrated for his divine wisdom, inspirational leadership, and Midas touch in wealth and job creation, having directly empowered over 50,000 youths across Nigeria with life-transforming skills. Passionate, resourceful, and impact-driven, Chinedu Nsofor stands out as a nation-builder whose contributions continue to shape lives and institutions to the glory of God.

Customs at the Crossroads: When Lawmakers Look Away and the Executive Looks Aside

By Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi

In a democracy, legislative oversight is the scalpel that cuts through deceit, inefficiency, and corruption in public institutions. It is the people’s last institutional shield against abuse of power. But what happens when that shield becomes a shelter for the very rot it is meant to expose? And what happens when the Executive arm, whose duty is to supervise its agencies, pretends not to see?

The unfolding drama between the National Assembly and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reveals more than a policy dispute. It exposes a dangerous triangle of confusion, complicity, and economic sabotage. At stake is not only the rule of law but the survival of an economy already gasping under inflation, a weak naira, and suffocating costs of living.

The House Talks Tough

In June 2025, Nigerians saw a glimpse of legislative courage when the House of Representatives Committee thundered at Customs:

> “Nigerian Customs Service, by June 30, must not collect CISS again. You are to collect only your 4% FOB assigned by the President. Even the 7% cost of collection you currently take is illegal—it was an executive fiat of the military, not democratic law. Any attempt to continue these illegal collections will be challenged in court. The ‘I’s have it.”

The voice was firm, the ruling decisive. Nigerians expected a turning point.

But the righteous thunder of the House was quickly muffled by the Senate’s softer tone, which suggested not the enforcement of the law but a readiness to bend it.

Senate: Oversight or Escape Route?

At a Senate Customs Committee session, Senator Ade Fadahunsi admitted openly that Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023. Yet rather than demand an end to illegality, he extended a lifeline to Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi:

> “If we come back to the same source… the two houses will sit together and see to your amendment so you will not be walking on a tight rope.”

But should Adeniyi be handed a loose rope while Nigeria’s economy hangs by a thread?

Instead of accountability, the Senate Customs Committee floated adjustments that would make life easier for Customs. The nation was given hints about fraudulent insurance and freight data, but instead of sanctions, what we saw was a search for escape routes. This is not oversight—it is overlook.

Smuggling and Excuses

The Senate Committee also lamented cross-border smuggling—Nigerian goods like cement flooding Cotonou, Togo, and Ghana at cheaper prices than in Nigeria. Senator Fadahunsi blamed the Central Bank’s 2% value deposit for encouraging the practice.

But where are the Senate’s enforcement actions—compliance checks, stiffer sanctions, cross-border coordination? None. The result is predictable: smugglers prosper, reserves bleed, and ordinary Nigerians pay more for less.

A Bloated Customs Budget

The Service’s 2024 capital allocation ballooned to ₦1.1 trillion from ₦706 billion. Instead of channeling these resources into modern trade systems, Customs is expanding empires of frivolity—such as proposing a new university despite already having training facilities in Gwagwalada and Ikeja that could easily be upgraded.

Oversight is not an afterthought; it is the legislature’s constitutional duty. To see waste and illegality and yet propose amendments that would legalise them is to turn oversight into overlook.

Customs has about 16,000 staff, yet many remain poorly trained. Rather than prioritise capacity building, the Service is busy building staff estates in odd locations. How does Modakeke—an inland town with no border post—end up with massive Customs housing projects, while strategic border towns like Badagry, Idiroko, and Saki remain neglected? Is Bashir Adeniyi Comptroller-General of Customs—or Minister of Housing?

The 4% FOB Levy: A Policy Blunder

The central controversy is the Federal Government’s plan to replace existing port charges with a new 4% Free-On-Board (FOB) levy on imports.

Nigeria is an import-dependent nation. This levy will instantly hike the costs of cars, spare parts, machinery, and raw materials—crippling industries and punishing consumers.

Already, the consequences are biting:

A 2006 Toyota Corolla now costs between ₦6–9 million.

Clearing agents who once paid ₦215,000 for license renewal must now cough out ₦4 million.

New freight forwarder licenses have jumped from ₦600,000 to ₦10 million.

Customs claims the revenue is needed for its modernisation programme, anchored on a software platform called B’Odogwu. But stakeholders describe this so-called “Odogwu” as epileptic—if not comatose. Why commit trillions to a ghost programme that will be obsolete by January 2026, when the Nigerian Revenue Service is set to take over Customs collections?

Industry Raises the Alarm

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the levy will worsen inflation, disrupt supply chains, and hurt productivity.

Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, calls the levy “economically dangerous.” His reasoning is straightforward:

The 4% FOB levy is much higher than the 1% CISS it replaces.

Peer countries like Ghana maintain just 1%.

The new levy will fuel inflation, raise the landed costs of goods, and destabilise the naira.

He also revealed that the Customs Modernisation Act, which introduced the levy, was passed without Senate scrutiny or meaningful stakeholder consultation. He estimates that the levy could add ₦3–4 trillion annually to freight costs—burdens that will be transferred directly to consumers.

Who Is Behind the “Odogwu” Masquerade?

The haste to enforce this levy, despite its looming redundancy, raises disturbing questions. Who benefits from the “Odogwu” project draining trillions? Why the rush, when NRS will take over collections in a few months?

This masquerade must be unmasked.

The Price Nigerians Pay

For ordinary Nigerians, this policy translates into one thing: higher prices. Cars, manufactured goods, and spare parts are spiraling beyond reach. A nation struggling with inflation, unemployment, and a weak currency cannot afford such reckless experiments.

So, while the Senate looks away, the Executive cannot look aside.

The Executive Cannot Escape Blame.

It is easy to focus on the failings of the legislature. But we must not forget: the Customs Service is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Finance, under the direct supervision of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.

If Customs is breaking the law, wasting resources, or implementing anti-people policies, the buck stops at the Executive’s table. The Minister of Finance is Chairman of the Customs Board. To fold his hands while the Service operates in illegality is to abdicate responsibility.

History gives us a model. In 1999, the Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, was specifically assigned to supervise Customs and report directly to the President. Meanwhile, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala focused on broader fiscal and economic policies. That division of responsibility improved accountability. Today, the absence of such an arrangement is feeding impunity.

President Tinubu and his Finance Minister must act decisively. Oversight without executive will is a dead letter.

A Call to Accountability

The truth is stark:

Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023 to the Senate’s own confession.

The 4% FOB levy will deepen inflation and worsen economic hardship.

The Ministry of Finance bears ultimate responsibility for Customs’ conduct.

Until importing and consuming, Nigerians demand accountability—of the Comptroller-General, the Senate, and above all, the Finance Ministry—this bleeding will continue.

Nigerians deserve better. They deserve a Customs Service that serves the nation, not a privileged few. They deserve a House that enforces its resolutions, not one that grandstands. They deserve a Senate that upholds the law, not one that bends it. And above all, they deserve an Executive that does not look aside while illegality thrives under its ministry.

Only public pressure can end this indulgence. If Nigerians keep silent, we will keep paying the price—in higher costs, weaker currency, and a sabotaged economy.

Citizens’ Charge: Silence is Not an Option

Fellow Nigerians, the Customs crisis is not a drama for the pages of newspapers—it is a burden on our pockets, our businesses, and our children’s future. Every illegal levy is a tax on the poor. Every abandoned oversight is an open invitation to corruption. Every silence from the Executive is an approval of impunity.

We cannot afford to fold our arms. Democracy gives us the power of voice, the duty of vigilance, and the right to demand accountability. Let us demand that:

The Senate and House of Representatives stop playing good cop, bad cop, and enforce the law without compromise.

The Ministry of Finance takes full responsibility for the Customs Service, supervising it in the interest of Nigerians, not vested interests.

The President intervenes now, before the Service crosses the dangerous line of turning illegality into policy.

History will not forgive a people who suffered in silence when their economy was bled by recklessness. Silence is complicity. The time to speak, to write, to petition, to protest, and to demand is now.

Customs must serve Nigeria—not sabotage it.

Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also the President of Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the CEO, Masterbuilder Communications.

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