The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed concern over the growing culture of sycophancy in Nigeria’s political system, lamenting that many aides and advisers to public officials are more interested in praise-singing than speaking the truth to power.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference and Book Launch, where he and Atedo Peterside discussed Nigeria’s economic and governance challenges, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor said most political appointees only tell their principals what they want to hear rather than offer sincere advice.
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Sanusi noted that his reputation for frankness has made him unpopular among some government officials. He urged ministers and presidential aides to prioritize honesty over flattery, stressing that only truthful counsel can help rescue Nigeria’s struggling economy.
“Our leaders listen but only to those who tell them what they want to hear. Nigeria has too many sycophants in government. Those who speak the truth are seen as enemies of the state,” he said. “You sit in a meeting, and the President is there. The first thing people say is, ‘Mr. President, I want to thank you for your great leadership. God has blessed Nigeria by making you our leader.’ By the time they finish laying that foundation, it is their advice that the President accepts.”
He added, “But when you tell the truth and point out what is wrong, they say you are the enemy. That is why people like Atedo Peterside and myself are always seen as enemies of the state because people don’t like hearing the truth.”
Sanusi specifically advised those working with the President to avoid blind loyalty, warning that sycophancy erodes credibility and weakens governance.
“Those who work with the President must understand that it is not in their benefit to turn themselves into praise singers. You disgrace yourself and the office you hold when you do that,” he stated.
Turning to economic issues, the Emir commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the courage to remove fuel subsidies and unify exchange rates. However, he cautioned that these policies would fail without institutional discipline and prudent fiscal management.
“If you stop paying subsidies but continue borrowing more, it means you’ve filled one hole only to dig another,” he warned. “The real challenge now is the quality of government spending and the management of the revenues saved.”
Sanusi further urged the government to lead by example by cutting unnecessary expenditure and reducing the cost of governance.
“Why do we need 48 ministers? Why do we need long convoys of vehicles and endless travel expenses?” he queried. “We cannot preach sacrifice to the people while living in luxury at the top.”
