Nigeria, Jan. 29 -- In 2007, I attended a seminar organized by the Political Science Department at Nasarawa State University, Keffi. The guest speaker was the late Senator (Dr.) Emmanuel Okpudu Okpede (of blessed memory), a man whose wisdom and humor left an impression that lingers with me to this day. During his lecture, he quoted a northern politician's cheeky definition of politics as "a situation where people come together to choose who they will blame." The room erupted in laughter, but there was truth in the humor-a truth about the complexities of governance and human nature.

The seminar became even more engaging during the question-and-answer session. A lecturer from the Faculty of Social Sciences stood up and queried the late Sen...