Leadership Beyond Praise: Sycophants taking the stage!
In the early days of leadership, applause often comes easy. Supporters gather, voices rise in praise, and images flood the media. For many, it’s a moment of triumph. But for a serious leader, especially in Nigeria, it should be a time for quiet reflection and deep discernment.
The greatest danger facing a new leader is not opposition or criticism, but the embrace of sycophants. That is, those who offer praise but avoid truth. These individuals don’t challenge, they flatter. They don’t inform, they affirm. Their goal is not to help the leader succeed, but to remain in his favor. In a country like Nigeria, this culture of flattery has become deeply entrenched. It is a threat to progress.
Sycophancy distorts reality. It blinds leaders to the real conditions of their people. When insecurity rises, these voices find someone else to blame. When the economy worsens, they speak only of “potential.” When the poor cry out, they respond with press releases, not policies. A leader who listens only to praise will inevitably make decisions that please the few but fail the many.
The implications are clear. When truth is suppressed, failure becomes inevitable. And Nigeria cannot afford more failure. The challenges we face are visible and urgent, widespread poverty, a fragile economy, rising youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and an education system in crisis. These problems cannot be solved by praise. They require courage, honesty, and a willingness to hear the uncomfortable truth.
What, then, is the way forward?
First, a leader must surround himself with truth-tellers. These are not enemies but allies of progress. They may not praise blindly, but they are loyal to the people’s interest and to the future of the nation. Their words may sting, but they heal.
Second, the people must be heard directly. True leadership listens beyond the inner circle. Market women, teachers, farmers, students, and artisans. These are the real citizens whose stories matter. Their feedback is not noise. It is the raw material for sound policy.
Third, performance must matter more than praise. A leader’s worth should not be measured by how often he is applauded, but by how effectively he solves problems. Speeches are not achievements. Social media trends are not results. Impact is.
Lastly, leadership must be grounded in humility. Arrogance is the enemy of progress. A humble leader admits what he doesn’t know, seeks counsel, and takes responsibility. He governs with the awareness that power is borrowed, and must be used for the good of all.
In the end, Nigeria does not need another celebrated leader. It needs a sincere one. A leader who will not be deceived by applause, but driven by purpose. A leader who values truth, even when it hurts—and who acts on it, even when it costs.
That is the kind of leadership this moment demands. And the kind history will remember.
