Sycophants misled Buhari, betrayed him later — Gov Sule
By Jeffrey Agbo
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has said that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was undermined by sycophants who surrounded him with false praise while he was in power, only to turn against him after he left office.
Governor Sule made the remarks in Abuja at the weekend during the 2nd Raymond Dokpesi Diamond Lecture, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), where he was also conferred with a Fellowship of the Institute.
The event, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, attracted top public officials, communication strategists and media professionals who honoured the late DAAR Communications founder, Raymond Dokpesi.
Speaking at the lecture, Governor Sule said his experience in governance had exposed him to the dangers of flattery, warning that constant praise-singing often blinds leaders to reality and weakens accountability.
“By being a governor, I have seen what sycophancy can do. I have seen people actually sit in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari to tell him, ‘Oh, you are the best ever. Nobody can do this better.’
“But the minute Buhari left government, they started saying, ‘Oh, he was one of the worst presidents we had ever seen.’ These are the same people but in different moments. That is what sycophancy is all about,” Sule said.
The governor also reflected on his early political journey, recalling his first attempt to contest the Nasarawa governorship in 2007 after returning from the United States. The experience, he said, exposed him to the realities of Nigerian politics.
“At the end of every meeting, they would ask for money, and I would tell them I don’t have naira, I have dollars, and they would say, ‘That is okay!’” he recounted, drawing laughter from the audience.
On peacebuilding, Sule highlighted how he resolved the frequent clashes between farmers and herders along the Nasarawa–Benue border, stressing that he refused to inherit old grudges between his predecessor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, and former Benue governor, Samuel Ortom.
“My father always told me not to inherit enemies. That was why I led a delegation of major traditional rulers from Nasarawa State to visit Governor Ortom, where the issues were comprehensively addressed,” he explained.
Governor Sule credited his eventual rise to power in 2019 to the encouragement and backing of Al-Makura, who convinced him to run while he was still working with the Dangote Group.
“Having experienced the politics of 2007, I was cautious. But Al-Makura promised to resolve every issue I raised, and true to his word, he did,” he recalled.
Drawing a contrast between loyalty and betrayal, Sule said he remained grateful to Al-Makura for his unwavering support.
“I will forever be grateful to Al-Makura,” he declared, adding that he would never allow political differences to damage their relationship.
The governor also paid tribute to Dokpesi, describing him as a fearless media pioneer who challenged state monopoly and expanded Nigeria’s broadcast space.
“We are here to celebrate an icon of media. Dokpesi was not afraid to speak truth to power, even during difficult times,” he said.
