The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has lamented the presence of too many sycophants in the Nigerian political space.
He argued that those appointed as aides and advisers to political office holders often fail to tell their principals the truth, but only say what such leaders want to hear about their policies and activities, which is often not the truth.
The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who spoke on Monday in Abuja at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference and Book Launch, where he and Atedo Peterside bared their minds on Nigeria’s economic policies and governance challenges, pointed out that he speaks the truth to those in power and that is why many of those in government don’t like him.
He charged Ministers and presidential aides to avoid turning themselves into praise singers rather than giving the President honest advice that can save the nation’s economy.
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Naija News reports that Sanusi lamented that apart from the presence of too many sycophants as aides to those in leadership positions, most of those in power often see those who tell them the truth or give honest feedback as enemies of the government.
“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.
“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,’” Sanusi said. “By the time they finish laying that foundation, it is their advice that the President accepts.”
“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,” he said.
Specifically, Sanusi called on those working closely with the President to avoid blind loyalty but speak the truth to the leaders.
“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 warned.
Tinubu’s Economic Policy
The Emir commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for having the courage and political will to remove fuel subsidy and unify the exchange rates but warned that if not matched with institutional discipline and prudent spending, the reforms will fail.
“If you stop paying subsidies but continue borrowing more, it means you’ve filled one hole only to dig another,” he said.
“The real challenge now is the quality of government spending and the management of the revenues saved.”
He, however, called on the government to lead by example by cutting waste in public spending.
“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,” he queried.
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