Power is a Loan, Not a Possession: The Sacred Duty of Planting People.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester for SaharaWeeklyNG.com

Power is not an inheritance. It is not a birthright. It is not even a possession. Power, in its truest form, is a loan temporary, conditional, and transient. It is entrusted to individuals by people, institutions or circumstances, but it always comes with an expiry date. The tragedy of our world, however, is that too many leaders behave as though power is eternal. They clutch onto it, abuse it, weaponize it and in the end, leave nothing behind but ruins, regret and ridicule.

The French philosopher Voltaire once remarked: “With great power comes great responsibility.” But in our era, we must go further: with great power comes the obligation to plant people. To plant people is to empower them, mentor them, uplift them and prepare them for a time when you are no longer in the spotlight. For one day, inevitably, the motorcades will vanish, the applause will fade and the titles will turn into footnotes. What will remain is the impact you left on human lives.

The Fragility of Power: Why No One Holds It Forever.

History, politics and life itself have shown that power is fleeting. Even the most feared emperors and the most influential presidents eventually yield to time. The Roman Empire, once stretching across continents, collapsed. The mighty Pharaohs of Egypt, who believed themselves divine, are remembered today only as names etched on tombs. Closer to home, African military dictators who once ruled with iron fists now live in obscurity, some begging for relevance in old age.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama put it sharply: “The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.” What he meant is that no matter how powerful you think you are, time has a way of humbling everyone. Leaders who imagine themselves irreplaceable soon discover the bitter truth: power is seasonal and every season changes.

This is why the greatest leaders are those who use their moment not to build monuments to themselves but to build people. Because monuments crack, but people remember.

Leadership Beyond Tenure: Planting People as Legacy.

Leadership, in its essence, is not measured by the number of years spent in office but by the number of lives transformed in that period. Nelson Mandela, who ruled South Africa for just one term, remains immortal in global memory not because he clung to office but because he planted people and values. He mentored a new generation of South African leaders, built institutions and showed the world that humility is the highest form of power.

John C. Maxwell, the world-renowned leadership expert, insists: “The greatest legacy a leader can leave is having developed other leaders.” The logic is simple; TITLES DIE, but PEOPLE LIVE ON. The greatest misuse of power, therefore, is to leave people the same (or worse) than you met them.

The Tragedy of Hoarded Power.
When power is hoarded instead of shared, the result is decay. Leaders who suppress others to protect their dominance always end up isolated. They mistake fear for loyalty, but once they step down, the very people who applauded them disappear. History is full of such examples.

Idi Amin of Uganda, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and Sani Abacha of Nigeria all wielded absolute power in their days. But what became of them? Their regimes collapsed in disgrace. They planted no people, built no successors and left their nations bleeding. Today, they are remembered not for greatness but for tyranny.

Contrast this with leaders like Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, who invested heavily in education, youth empowerment and national capacity-building. Though gone, he planted a nation of thinkers and innovators. Singapore, once a poor fishing island, is now a first-world economy, proof that planting people outlives personal reign.

Why Planting People Matters in All Spheres of Life.

This principle is not limited to politics. In business, religion and community leadership, those who succeed in developing people extend their influence far beyond their lifetimes. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, understood this. Though a perfectionist, he invested in building a strong leadership culture at Apple. That is why, years after his death, Apple continues to thrive.

In religion, Jesus Christ is perhaps the greatest example of planting people. He never built a palace or wrote a book. Instead, He invested in twelve disciples, ordinary men who later carried His message to the ends of the earth. Over two thousand years later, His influence remains unmatched, because He planted people, not monuments.

The Reality Check: What Happens When Power Ends.

We must never forget: the applause will fade. The titles will become past tense. The security convoys will vanish. The table will empty. At that point, what will remain is not the office you once occupied but the lives you touched.

The 20th-century historian Lord Acton’s timeless warning remains true: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Yet, there is a caveat often ignored; power can also elevate, if used rightly. It can inspire, empower and transform. The leader who recognizes this truth plants seeds in people while their influence lasts, because they know they will not hold it forever.

The Call to Leaders: Plant People While You Can.

To every leader (political, corporate, spiritual or community-based) the call is urgent: plant people while your voice still carries weight. Mentor the youth, empower the voiceless and create platforms for others to rise. While your hand still holds the pen, sign opportunities into others’ lives. Because one day, the pen will no longer be yours to hold.

The Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe once wrote: “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.” The integrity of leadership is tested not by the ability to acquire power, but by the willingness to share it, to empower others and to leave behind a generation better prepared than the one before.

A Personal Reflection.

Every society that has risen to greatness has done so on the back of leaders who planted people. Japan invested in education after World War II and became a global economic giant. Rwanda, under Paul Kagame, rose from genocide by investing in its people, particularly women and the youth. The evidence is overwhelming: leaders who plant people never die; their names are written in the hearts of men.

Conversely, leaders who hoard power, suppress others and treat their positions as private empires often face tragic endings. They die lonely, forgotten or mocked, not because they didn’t once have power, but because they failed to use it meaningfully.

Final Word: Power as a Loan, Legacy as an Obligation.
At the end of the day, the truth remains eternal: power is a loan, not a possession. It is lent for a while and must be returned. But while it is in your hands, you have the sacred duty to plant people.

The applause will fade. The convoys will vanish. The spotlight will dim, but the people you lifted will carry your name across generations. They will become your greatest reference long after the titles are gone.

So, use power wisely. Not to silence, not to oppress, not to immortalize yourself, but to plant others. Because when all is said and done, people are the only legacy that never dies.