Politics, more than any other human endeavor, is a leveler. It has a unique way of humbling the mighty and exalting the lowly. The man who once commanded boardrooms, businesses, or pulpits may find himself waiting humbly for recognition in a ward meeting. The woman who was once celebrated in high society may have to queue under the sun to collect a party membership card. That is the beauty and the irony of politics, it brings everyone to the same table of relevance, where personal ego becomes a burden rather than an asset.
When people say politics is a leveler, it means that within the political space, titles, positions, wealth, and personal achievements take the back seat. The most powerful weapon is acceptance by the people. A man may be a Ph.D. holder, a senior engineer, or a successful entrepreneur, but in the political field, he might have to take instructions from someone who barely finished secondary school but has the grassroots support of the people.
Politics tests your humility. It checks how far you are willing to come down from your high horse to connect with ordinary people the market women, the artisans, the youths, and the party elders. It forces you to listen, negotiate, and sometimes plead with people you might once have overlooked.
Ego has destroyed more political dreams than incompetence ever did. Many potential leaders failed not because they lacked vision or brilliance, but because they refused to bend. They believed their education, wealth, or exposure automatically qualified them to lead. But politics doesn’t reward pride; it rewards humility, loyalty, and people skills.
In politics, no one cares about how expensive your wristwatch is or how many certificates you have on your wall. What matters is how you make people feel, how you respect others, and how well you can blend without bullying. When you carry a bloated ego into politics, you will offend easily, isolate yourself, and eventually be sidelined.
To succeed in politics, you must blend to belong. Politics thrives on relationship and emotional intelligence. You cannot intimidate people into loyalty, you earn it by being relatable and approachable.
You must learn to sit on the floor when necessary, share a meal with the downtrodden, listen to complaints without irritation, and respect both the young and old within the structure.
Ego makes you think you are above all that but politics will show you that even a gatekeeper in your ward can determine your political fate. Every voice counts, and those who understand this truth are the ones who rise fast in the political world.
True political leadership begins with service. Service is impossible where ego reigns. The moment you drop your ego, you begin to see politics for what it truly is a platform to touch lives, not a stage to showcase status.
The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and other nationalists did not succeed because they were the richest or most powerful; they succeeded because they humbled themselves to serve the people and build consensus. Great leaders build bridges, not walls.
Politics will test your patience. You will face insults, betrayals, and disappointments. If your ego is too fragile, you will react emotionally and lose focus. But if you drop your ego, you will endure, learn, and keep growing.
Great politicians are not those who win every argument, they are those who can lose arguments and still win people. They understand that politics is not about being right, but about being relevant, responsive, and respected.
Politics remains the greatest equalizer in human affairs. It strips away pretense and exposes character. When you step into politics, drop your ego at the door. Come as a learner, not a lord. Come to serve, not to show off.
Because in politics, ego isolates, but humility integrates.
And only those who can integrate with the people can rise to lead them.