By Ibrahim Bunu
Email: ibrahimbunu2520@gmail.com
There is an old African proverb that says, “The footprints of power disappear, but the footprints of justice remain.” Whether one calls it karma, divine justice, providence, or simply the natural consequences of human actions, history repeatedly reminds us that power is temporary while accountability has remarkable endurance.
A recent recording featuring public commentator Dr. Mahdi Shehu explores this idea through the experiences of individuals who believe they were harmed by policies and actions attributed to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The recording is emotionally charged, but beneath its moral language lies a broader philosophical question:
Can power permanently escape accountability?
This question deserves thoughtful examination.
Distinguishing Allegations from Established Facts
The recording references several groups that have publicly expressed grievances, including:
* Teachers who have complained about dismissals and employment disputes.
* Individuals whose properties or businesses were affected by government demolitions.
* Citizens who believe they lost their livelihoods because of government policies.
These claims have been widely debated in public discourse. Some have resulted in litigation, public criticism, and political debate, while others remain contested. It is therefore important to distinguish between publicly reported allegations, personal testimonies, judicial findings, and political opinions.
Justice requires evidence, due process, and fairness to all parties.
What Dr. Mahdi Shehu Calls “Karma”
Dr. Mahdi Shehu’s argument is essentially philosophical rather than scientific.
His central thesis can be summarized as follows:
Every action produces consequences.
The concept exists across many civilizations.
* Christianity teaches that a person reaps what they sow (Galatians 6:7).
* Islam repeatedly teaches that Allah is perfectly just and no injustice ultimately escapes His knowledge.
* Traditional African wisdom similarly teaches that evil eventually returns to its author.
* Eastern philosophies describe this principle as karma.
Although these traditions differ in theology, they share one central idea:
Actions have consequences.
Why Many Victims Turn to Prayer
One of the most striking observations in the recording is not anger but helplessness.
According to the speaker, many people who believe they were wronged lack financial resources, political influence, or legal access.
Unable to challenge powerful institutions, they turn instead to churches and mosques.
This is a sociological reality observed in many societies.
Where citizens perceive formal justice as inaccessible, religious institutions often become places where grief, hope, and demands for justice are expressed.
Prayer becomes both spiritual comfort and a form of peaceful resistance.
Whether one believes such prayers produce divine intervention is ultimately a matter of faith.
Legal Justice Versus Moral Justice
The recording draws an important distinction.
Legal justice depends on courts, evidence, statutes, and constitutional procedures.
Moral justice depends on conscience, history, and public memory.
Sometimes the two coincide.
Sometimes they do not.
History contains many examples where legal systems failed in the short term while public opinion later judged leaders differently.
Conversely, history also contains examples where accusations proved exaggerated or unfounded.
This is why careful evidence remains essential.
Why Public Officials Face Higher Moral Expectations
Every democracy places extraordinary authority in the hands of elected officials.
That authority carries corresponding responsibility.
Citizens generally expect leaders to:
* Exercise power proportionately.
* Respect due process.
* Protect vulnerable populations.
* Balance efficiency with compassion.
* Accept accountability for controversial decisions.
Even when policies are lawful, governments must also consider their human consequences.
A technically legal decision may still generate long-term resentment if affected communities perceive it as unfair.
The Political Consequences of Public Perception
Politics operates not only on legal judgments but also on public trust.
If large sections of society believe they were treated unjustly, that perception can influence elections, reputations, and historical legacy.
Political capital is accumulated slowly but can be depleted quickly.
For this reason, wise leaders invest not only in infrastructure and economic reforms but also in legitimacy, dialogue, and reconciliation.
Lessons Beyond One Individual
Whether one agrees with Dr. Mahdi Shehu’s interpretation or not, the broader lesson extends beyond any single political figure.
History repeatedly demonstrates that:
* Power changes hands.
* Governments come and go.
* Court judgments evolve.
* Public memory persists.
A leader’s legacy is shaped not only by roads built or budgets balanced but also by how ordinary people remember being treated.
A More Grounded Understanding of “Karma”
If the word “karma” is stripped of its mystical associations, it can simply describe the long-term consequences of decisions.
Policies affect people.
People remember.
Memories shape politics.
Politics shapes history.
In that sense, actions eventually return—not through magic, but through institutions, public opinion, electoral outcomes, historical scholarship, and personal legacy.
Final Reflection
Justice is strongest when pursued through lawful institutions.
Courts, independent investigations, due process, and constitutional safeguards remain the proper means of resolving disputes.
At the same time, leaders should not dismiss the emotional and moral experiences of citizens who feel wronged.
Whether one calls it karma, divine justice, accountability, or historical judgment, societies eventually evaluate how power was exercised.
The enduring lesson is simple:
Power may be temporary.
Justice may be delayed.
But neither history nor conscience forgets easily.
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