For centuries, thinkers and authors who are deeply interested in individual integrity that have enriched the fields of Literature and Philosophy, had written extensively on the nature of power, its inner workings, the complexity of ambition, and the role that the greater good can play in the making of a leader. In all their research, these authors have repeatedly warned those in power to be careful about sycophants, those who use flattery to gain favour. You see, sycophants are like a poisonous apple. They are drawn to powerful individuals wielding influence, especially in politics. That has elevated sycophancy to a lucrative trade, especially in Nigeria. The reason is not farfetched: Power is like a magnet of sorts for sycophants. Power gravitates to them like moths to flame. Their praise to those in power is like perfume – enjoyed from afar, but toxic if consumed.
Like in the game of thrones which politics often is, sycophants are like jesters. Beneath the veneer of their praise lies the nakedness of vaulting ambition. That’s why in courts of power, sycophants wear the crown of flattery. They are handsomely rewarded in a power-focused environment like Nigeria. Taken as a whole, a sycophant’s path is paved not with honesty, but opportunism. That is why, in our politics of today, the most dangerous blight silently eating away our political, social and economic fabric is sycophancy. I like the Greek definition of a sycophant(sykophante) as “someone who brings all kinds of charges against those who have done no wrong and proves none, only to gain most profit”.
The term originally meant “informer or slanderer”. In ancient Greece, it refers to someone who will “show the figs”- a pretentious fellow. The modern sense of flattery is an evolution of the original. In the real context of politics, sycophants are malicious tricksters who deceive for personal profit. They are servile flatterers, ass-kissers, and yes men. Their aim is to seek favours through the revolving doors of the powerful and influential. It’s the currency of their fame. They are poison in our democracy. That’s why our democracy heaves with hysteria. According to researchers, sycophants thrive when a narcissist is in power. They are profiting because the man in power loves to surround himself with people who tell what he likes to hear. Sycophants have a clear-cut pattern.
Their flattering often comes ahead of the next election. In recent weeks, we have seen a surfeit sycophants in our politics. Let’s just take two examples that trouble the mind. A few days ago, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo was in his ‘best element’ at the state’s weekly Executive Council meeting. He read a riot act to his commissioners and members of newly inaugurated boards. He threatened to send away any of them who failed to wear ‘Asiwaju cap’ – also known as President Tinubu cap. He claimed that the swearing in of the political appointees wouldn’t have been possible without the support of President Tinubu. According to him, APC had lost several elections in the state in the past because of lack of support from previous presidents. “So let me tell you, you see this cap I am wearing, I will not forgive any Commissioner that’s not wearing it. Henceforth, in Exco meeting, if you are not wearing a suit, and you are wearing a traditional dress without this cap, you are going back”. As one author said, “the trouble with sycophants is that they don’t know where to put their tongues”. At the height of sycophancy lies a fragile self-structure held together by lack of confidence, chronic insecurity and insatiable hunger for approval by the master on the throne.
In the theatre of flattery, every sycophant is a seasoned actor. It’s a sugar of deceit, dissolving honesty with sweetness. It’s like a shadow that follows the sun, but disappears in darkness. If that is what Gov Okpebholo did, immediate past Governor of Kogi state Yahaya Bello perhaps outdid him in flattering President Tinubu, last week. If you are looking for an expanded definition of a flatterer, Bello is the quintessential ass-kisser. It was a scene of embarrassment even to his uncouth supporters. Speaking during an endorsement rally for Tinubu and Gov Usman Ododo(his hand-picked successor), Bello said ,”we will not wait for God to send an angel with wings to fly into Nigeria to fix it. Did I tell you who the angel is? The angel is President Bola Tinubu”. He claimed that the “angel tasked with fixing Nigeria is President Tinubu himself”.
We know why corrupt politicians make such flattering statements as Okpebholo and Bello did. Did it surprise you why Bello invoke the “angel” phenomenon in describing President Tinubu? After all, didn’t Satan quote the Bible during his temptation of Jesus Christ. That didn’t make him the angel of light. Behind their fake smiles, sycophants are parasitic. They have little regard for truth and justice. Don’t forget that Bello is still facing N110bn money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC). Perhaps he thinks that by praising Tinubu to high heaven, the President may direct the antigraft agency to ease up the case against him. Will the EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede keep his promise not to compromise the mandate of the Commission in handling corruption-related cases?
That was his assurance last Thursday to mark his second year in office. So far, Bello is succeeding, walking freely when many suspects charged with lesser offences are already cooling off in jail. I think it would rather be a thousand times better to be a free soul in jail than be a sycophant and coward in the streets. As 2027 general election approaches, don’t be surprised to hear from some politicians that President Tinubu “is God in human flesh”. That false ‘messianic’ complex is almost here. Nothing is beyond Nigerian politicians in this season of defections.
In 2002, a year before the 2003 presidential election, Chief Tony Anenih, fondly called “Mr Fix it” was at his best wiles and schemes to manipulate the political process. He declared defiantly, “No vacancy in Aso Rock”. He said nothing would stop the then President Olusegun Obasanjo from being re-elected for a second term in 2003. At a dinner with some editors late in 2002 at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja (I was then Editor, Sunday Champion ), I remember asking Chief Anenih what he meant by “No vacancy in Aso Rock”. He said the “incumbent President is in the ring and nobody can dislodge him”.
However, he said his comment didn’t mean to shut the door against the choice of voters. The situation today is worse than what Anenih wanted for Obasanjo. Under the present APC administration, the grand plot is to dislodge all potential presidential aspirants to pave way for one man – Tinubu. That seems to be working. It could be the death kneel for democracy in Nigeria. For the bootlickers and flatterers, “Tinubu is a Nigerian project”. We have also heard people like George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, claiming that there’s “No Vacancy in Aso Rock” in 2027. A political class that doesn’t learn from history is bound to repeat the folly. Late Sani Abacha remains historians’ reference point. Akume and many others are strutting the political stage, praising Tinubu as the best Nigeria has ever had. That’s what happens when a parent behaves like a toddler.
The only way of discouraging a serious challenge to the man in power is for the incumbent to demonstrate competence and performance. Nigerians haven’t seen any improvement in their lives in the last two years (and counting). Never before have the citizens been visited with such hard – damn hard – tough times as they are experiencing today. When they say, ‘No vacancy in the presidency’, the truth is that, it’s an expression of a ‘fear factor’. It’s based on the president’s abysmal performance, and low public approval. That’s why nothing is left to chance to make it hard for other presidential hopefuls to contest in 2027. Truth is, Tinubu is beatable in a free, fair and transparent election in 2027. Former Governor of Anambra state, and Presidential candidate of the Labour in 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi is his biggest obstacle. Former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose said that much recently. That’s why no stone is left unturned to stop him in 2027. For now, that strategy is seems to be working. But that will not likely guarantee automatic re-election for President Tinubu.
By Dan Onwukwe
