Sycophancy, Nigeria’s poisonous apple: a desperate call to save the soul of the Nation. Genuine redemption can only happen on the wings of honesty, sacrifice, hard work, innovation and altruistic efforts of all and sundry. That redemption will happen only if we address the ‘elephants’ in the room, i.e. ‘cult leadership and impunity.’ It will not happen by sweeping the challenges under the Aso-Rock carpet; standing on a cult mandate; a speed drive through the coastal highway; alcohol induced clownish dance steps; gardening for leisure under the rock; monkeying through fun city; or through the church’s 100 days fast and hot-mic cover-ups.
By Elsie-Bernadette Onubogu
In recent discourse and analyses, I have noted that Nigeria cannot attain or achieve any meaningful progress without a deliberate and complete reboot from its current state.
This is partly because, what I described as a “pandemic of idiocy” – a ‘yes-person’ (yes-men/women) syndrome is ravaging every stratum of the Nigerian society. This disease leaves many Nigerians including myself in a melancholic state. Yet, I remain a child of hope. In these narratives, readers have likely grown accustomed to terms like toadying and bootlicking — words that, despite their bluntness, fail to capture the full nuance of the sycophancy that ‘marbles’ the shameless path to a human-made pandemic of idiocy.
The result is, a disturbing descent into systemic and near institutional addiction, dysfunction and value erosion – threatening the soul of our motherland. It is to unmask this addiction, unholy allegiance and to attempt redeeming the soul of this nation that I call for urgent action. The ‘urgency of now’ demands that efforts are made to reclaim and salvage the soul of Nigeria, at least, for the next generation.
To be able to do so amongst other issues, we must begin to address the addiction of ‘cultism of personality’ which is slowly cementing into the national psyche. Furthermore, the normalization of impunity, as well as the unholy allegiances and alliances laced with ethnic and religious mists that is numbing our collective consciences and reasoning must also be resisted, dismantled and confronted head-on.
From the leadership sphere to followership, everyday citizenry and institutions, Nigeria’s moral compass is undoubtedly misaligned, badly diluted, losing its bearing, almost entirely eroded, leaving values, ethics, norms, principles, justice, unity and accountability elusive, while sycophancy thrives. As the saying goes, ‘every sycophant’s path is paved not with honesty, but with opportunism.’
In local parlance, it is called ‘stomach infrastructure’ – it is flattery induced goodies! Within this theatre of flattery, sycophants act with such precision (often through lies on the pages of newspapers, praise singing/dancing, and or impunity) that the recipient sees the ‘drip as honey rather than the drip of ulterior motive’ that it is. Sadly, those who benefit while on this path have absolutely no shame!
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Consequently, it is futile to ask whether such persons have any scruples or conscience. Such shameless penchant prompted Norman Mailer (US Journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winner –‘Am American Dream’) to query, “Did a sense of shame ever reside in our toadies? You cannot stop people who are never embarrassed by themselves. Their readiness to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse can be cited as world class sycophancy.”
What makes this situation very dangerous, and vexatious is the fact that, it is permeating every nook and cranny of the Nigerian society – the three arms of government, the banking sector, the private sector, private citizens, and worse still journalists. It is a state where the Judiciary and the freedom of the press is baked into pies of sycophancy, the society is on the brink of – (I dare say, authoritarianism), prompting the famous US-NBC anchor – Chet Huntley to note, “Journalists were never intended to be the cheerleaders, the conductors of applause, the sycophants. Tragically, that is their assigned role in authoritarian societies.”
For Huntley, the US was not yet there (he was writing in a different time, though). But for Nigeria, I would argue, we are almost there. The level of toadying and sycophancy is poisonous. Like the proverbial Eve, those who eat of the poisonous apple, very often show no remorse. Rather, they perfect the art of defending the indefensible and passing the buck. Often, they choose to stand on the mandate!
We see such shameless toadying with people – some who lived their lives as public officials including journalists, judges amongst others. For some, it is excused as “connection,” while others term it corruption.” No matter how it is sliced, the plain truth is, “unbridled sycophancy” has taken over the reins of everyday living in Nigeria.
What about the religious institutions, the avowed men and women of God, some self-proclaimed and others – God anointed? Like Archangel Michael, these should be our final bulwark –the final guardians against the cult of personality that is devouring the soul of this nation. Sadly, what we are witnessing (but for a select few) is, many of these individuals not only stand atop the highest peaks of sycophancy. Indeed, for so many, they now preach from ‘pulpits of sycophancy’ for the highest bidder.
Most have descended into unholy allegiance and alliance that brings the message of Jesus Christ to disrepute. As I discussed with a dear friend a couple of weeks ago, he said to me, ‘in this moment of moral collapse, Saint Peter’s question to Christ echoes with painful precision: “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
Without prejudice, I urge ‘Nigerian women’ to rise to this challenge. For, in the time of such moral crisis in America, Coretta Scott King opined, “Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.”
I will say it again, Nigeria’s current socio-economic and political ecosystem is characterized by a systemic breakdown at all levels. The challenges are not isolated, what we have is total dysfunction – manifesting in unprecedented corruption and mismanagement. Thus, many argue that corruption is Nigeria’s biggest bane. There is some truth to this assertion. However, this writer is of the opinion that the biggest bane and the elephant in the room is ‘Consequence’ – the lack thereof. I am of the view that, if Nigeria had “effective consequences” – corruption will be checkmated if not eliminated entirely.
Consequences/Deterrence: persistent and pervasive lack of accountability at all levels and in all sectors, allows corruption particularly in the present cult personality moment to thrive –a breeding ground for impunity. In order to curb and eliminate this culture of impunity and reverse the cult-personality trend, effective and result-oriented consequences must be established and enforced. Such firm and visible consequences will not only punish offenders, but will send an unequivocal message (to Nigerians and the global community who is watching), that lawlessness and impunity will no longer be tolerated or excused. This will also restore and rebuild the much needed trust not just for Nigerians but also for foreign investors. There will no need for ‘bogus claims’ through social media tweets – only to be deleted due to falsehood. This is dysfunctional.
It is time to walk the talk, and stop managing the present dysfunction. It is time to return to the true tenets of ‘real democracy,’ to wit: upholding the rule of law, respect for human lives and rights, press freedom, independence of institutions, etc. To achieve the change and transformation we desire, all hands must be on deck. As the American civil rights activist – the late John Lewis stated, ‘Together you (we) can redeem the soul of a nation.” It is time to redeem Nigeria’s soul. Her future will not be built on past glory (the giant of Africa), nostalgia or denial. Neither will Nigeria thrive on the whims of sycophancy, cult personality, wishful thinking, religious or ethnic cover-ups.
Genuine redemption can only happen on the wings of honesty, sacrifice, hard work, innovation and altruistic efforts of all and sundry. That redemption will happen only if we address the ‘elephants’ in the room, i.e. ‘cult leadership and impunity.’ It will not happen by sweeping the challenges under the Aso-Rock carpet; standing on a cult mandate; a speed drive through the coastal highway; alcohol induced clownish dance steps; gardening for leisure under the rock; monkeying through fun city; or through the church’s 100 days fast and hot-mic cover-ups.
Rather, it will happen if we integrate purposeful vision, integrity and commitment. Yes, it will entail genuinely letting the ‘poor’ breathe! For as someone said, “The soul of a nation thrives when its leaders govern with integrity and compassion.” The time for Nigeria’s soul to thrive again is now.
- Elsie-Bernadette Onubogu, an independent consultant, international lawyer, public policy and mainstreaming expert, writes from the U.S.
