The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sycophancy

  • GYB, between loyalty and sycophancy

    IR: The first method of estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him (Niccole Machiavelli). The failure of the present administration in Kogi State began from day one, as a result of the calibre, quality and mentality of the men and women the governor, Yahaya Bello, chose to work with to pilot the affairs of the state. Didn’t the holy book say that he who walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall come to ruin and destruction?

    Governor Bello got it wrong from the beginning by appointing people who have got no value or something to add to his government but would rather use their appointments and positions as opportunities to further massage their ego, oppress the people and swell their bank accounts.

    The activities of many of his overzealous appointees who go about threatening and harassing members of the public with SARS and other security agencies, including thugs, if allowed to continue unchecked could result into violence and chaos capable of threatening the fragile and volatile peace of the state. See how the ineptitude and incompetence of the media team was exposed when the news of the purported dissolution of the state executive council and local government caretaker committees found its way into the public space even before the conclusion of the council meeting? Such embarrassment is what you get when you choose to work with intellectually deficient and redundant personalities.

    While aides of other governors were busy posting pictures and updates of landmark achievements and laudable policies, projects and programmes on the social media for the whole world to see, the governor’s clueless appointees were celebrating pictures of the governor’s newly built mansion in Okene on the social media. It is said that a good friend wouldn’t get on your way unless you are on you way down. Sadly, none of the appointees was clear-headed enough to advise that at the time when civil servants and pensionaers wallowed in poverty and untold hardship, a flashy, reckless and a lavish celebration of personal house was tantamount to insulting the sensibilities, understanding and patience of the good people of Kogi State.

    For a governor expected to be the beacon of hope, an ambassador and a role model to the millions of youth in Nigeria, he is being tossed around, influenced, manipulated and misled by sycophants who have hijacked his government for self-serving favours, political influence and financial enrichment. We are in the 21st century and in a digital age, so having around people who calls him “white lion” or “digital governor” is ridiculous and laughable.

    Since none of the governor’s appointees love him enough to look into his eyes and boldly tell him that his popularity and goodwill enjoyed at the inception of his government more than two years ago is fast eroding, the reality of the day is that he is not only despised and hated within the state but his actions and utterances, coupled with the recklessness and egoistic manner with which many of his appointees behave has earned him more enemies than friends all over the country.

    It is never too late to make amends.  All that the governor needs to do at this point in time is to draw the line between genuine loyalty and sycophancy. Identify those who really share and believe in his vision and give them responsibilities, separate the trouble makers who go about using his name to harass members of the public and show them the way out. He should do away with sycophants who have turned themselves into praise singers instead of doing what they are appointed for and purge the government of inexperienced and inept appointees.

    • Hussain Obaro,

    Lokoja.

  • The limit of sycophancy

    What the organizers intended was perhaps not more than a side attraction. But Chukwudi Iboko, it turned out, would steal the show on the night The Sun Newspapers crowned Nyesom Wike and Akinwumni Ambode best governors of 2017.

    Displaying a dummy cheque of N300,000 as cash component of Iboko’s posthumous award as “Hero of the Year”, the first son of the slain police Sergeant was about to respond on behalf of his mum and six siblings when the compere was signaled to pause. Up came Orji Uzor Kalu.

    Barely able to hold back tears, OUK reminded the packed hall the uncommon gallantry exhibited by Iboko during a fire-fight with robbers invading Owerri branch of Zenith Bank last year.

    He could have bolted, but chose to die fighting, killing one of the robbers, while others escaped with bullet wounds.

    “Looking at this boy tonight,” OUK continued, pointing at junior Iboko “I can feel his pains of having to live without a father.”

    The Sun publisher then converted his tears to “a personal donation of N500,000.”

    Indeed, many could recall Iboko’s exploits in a 4-minute video gleaned from a CCTV footage that went viral on the social media last year.

    Then, the dam of kindness literally broke loose tonight. Senate President Bukola Saraki (decorated as “The Politician of the Year”) topped OUK’s with N.5m (the cash was handed the family right there). Followed Senate PDP caucus’ N.5m; Methodist Church’s N1m and NDDC’s N1m plus scholarships to his seven children up to university level. In summary, N8m was raised instantly for the Iboko family beside the N300,000 offered by The Sun.

    The message should not be lost. It shows that when our common humanity is aroused, Nigerians, irrespective of tongue and tribe, are one family. Coming when national unity is increasingly being questioned in many quarters on account of negative politics, nothing could be more reassuring.

    Overall, it is quite pleasing to see that the idea conceived back in 2003 is helping to bring lifeline to the needy.

    As pioneer editor of Sunday Sun, I recall when we floated the idea of Sun Man of the Year then, we sought any individual or institution that best embodied our corporate value. I am proud to see that my brother and friend, Eric Osagie (now the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief) is sustaining the tradition.

  • Of sycophancy and psycho-phancy

    Of sycophancy and psycho-phancy

    An oriental quip has it that a wise man would rather remain hungry than eat himself to stupor. It may seem a plain, old saying but it is requiring of much elucidation. The sages of yore are warning that you must never allow yourself to become gluttonous at another man’s dinner table nor let yourself be demeaned by any offering or blandishments.

    Why, we are still not done. Made plain further, this saying admonishes us never to be carried away irrespective of how lavish or sumptuous a banquet may be:  approach the repast with grace, dignity, comportment and utmost good sense, suggests. What does it betoken if a guest is found, after a long night retching and making a pathetic pile? What manner of guest would that be, after all?

    This is the crux of the matter at hand today. Hardball has indeed been feeling a bit sea sick over the recent outing of Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications. The verdant-bearded cabinet member was gung-ho midweek when he announced that his group was poised to open a campaign office in the southwest of Nigeria on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 presidential quest.

    The boisterous FEC member who spoke with State House correspondents after a visit to President Buhari told a bemused world that though the president was yet to indicate interest in re-election, he deserved re-election.

    Let’ hear him. “By the grace of God, we, his (Buhari’s) ardent supporters who appreciate his worth on behalf of millions of Nigerians, would urge him to re-contest…”

    Prodded as to whether the 2019 campaign had kicked off, he skidded off the tangent saying: “Every day, since he, (Buhari) came into office, all his activities are geared towards letting Nigerians know that they have a savior, rescuer, somebody who is committed to providing relief for Nigerians in all respects, in the area of fighting corruption, insurgency whether in the Northeast or Niger Delta; in the area of repairing the economy and providing jobs and providing social stability in the society.”

    Phew! This mumbo-jumbo must say it all for most discerning readers. Wetin Ministers dey do sef? Some have asked.

    Hardball wagers that the Honorable Minister was more intent on ingratiating himself to his boss and the cheapest line he could find is the re-election buzz. But Alhaji Adebayo probably didn’t know the news of the day or he just couldn’t care.

    How could he start re-election campaign at a period the citizenry are roiling under acute fuel shortage; a time of national blackout as a result of grid collapse; a time of savage bloodletting in Benue, Rivers and Borno States? How could a Minister deign to kick off electioneering before INEC has given the go-ahead?

    This is sycophancy gone hay-wire. Hardball terms it psycho-phancy!

  • ‘Failure of leadership, sycophancy responsible for agitations’

    A non governmental organisation, Project Nigeria 1st has identified the failure of leadership, sycophancy and the inability to identify visionary leadership with integrity as responsible for the current agitations for restructuring and secession across the country.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja, National Coordinator of the project, Uche Nwabukwu said the myriad of agitations in the country culminating in timelines and ultimatum by various groups threatens the sovereignty of the nation, pointing out that if not addressed, such agitations can lead to anarchy.

    He said the various groups agitating for one thing or the other across the country should embrace dialogue in other to arrive at a permanent solution saying “we must agree that Nigeria’s challenge far outweigh our various agitations.”

    He said: “the failure of leadership over the years has brought the nation various levels of challenges from Maiduguri now an abandoned city with most of its people residing outside the state’ to Abuja where majority of Nigerians do not show responsibility even to civil laws or is it the environmentally degraded state of the Niger Delta despite the resources derived from there or the erosion engulfed roads and collapse of infrastructure in the south east of Nigeria.”

    He added that sycophancy and inability to identify visionary leadership with integrity has resulted in wanton waste and unaccountability.

    Nwabuku appealed to “our brothers of Indigenous People of Biafra, Arewa Youth Coalition, Niger Delta Agitators, Odua Peoples’ Congress, Middle Belt agitators and all other agitating forces borne out of genuine concern for a better Nigeria to sheathe their swords. Let us dialogue among ourselves and reach a permanent solution because we must agree that Nigeria’s challenge far outweigh our various agitations.”

    They call on the federal government to “sustain the drive for national integration by ensuring that Nigeria’s history, language and her diversity is taught in schools. We call on the media to partner with us in reaching out to both the leaders and the people to wake up to their civic and social responsibilities.