By Rev Dr. Ime Johnson
The recent engagement between the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops who went on a courtesy visit to the Aso Rock Villa has unveiled the remote nature of the majority of Nigerian politicians. From the period of antiquity hitherto, bad leaders have demonstrated very strong cravings for sycophancy and praise singers. At their very nature lies a pretext and preponderance to always tell the people what they want to hear. This pretext becomes glaring especially during political campaigns. The craving for flattery also serves as a yardstick for political appointment. The danger of sycophancy has far-reaching implications.
From the biblical viewpoint, political leaders like Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Herod, to mention just a few, demonstrated a very high taste for flattery. Herod in Acts 12:20-23 met his waterloo when the people flattered him and even called him “a god”. From the text, the people of Tyre and Sidon, in their quest to curry and maintain political and economic favour, became sycophants to Herod. Most political appointees in Nigeria flatter their bosses because they derive their “food” from their tables. To say that the majority of political appointees of the President are sycophants cannot be overstressed. Their reactions to the outcome of the Catholic Bishops’ meeting with the President call for sober reflection.
People who are known for integrity (Psalm 15:4) have suddenly become docile, malleable, and compliant to sycophancy because of political and economic gains. It is a pity. Sycophancy enhances corruption, contaminates and defiles the moral principles of individuals who engage in it. It leads to mental depravity as appointees speak irrationally and nonsensically just to defend their bosses without any sense of objectivity. When they were in opposition, they spoke constructively, but the moment they secure political power, the reverse become the case.
Sycophancy incurs divine judgement on the one who flatters as well as the one who receives flattery. Proverbs 29:5 states, “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet”. This is food for thought for politicians who feel it is the right thing to sing praises to their leaders while the people suffer in pain arising from their dysfunctional leadership. The judgement is no different from that meted out to the giver and receiver of bribes.
In Islam, Quran 4:135 speaks against flattering people and hiding the truth. “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives…and do not follow your desires , lest you go astray”. There is no room to sugarcoat words to please the high or powerful in society. In Quran 3:188, those who demand flattery and those who give fake praises are condemned. Since our political office holders are either Christians or Muslims, they are therefore inexcusable for their failure to uphold the tenets of their faiths.
Flattery hampers development and promotes enmity between the political class and the citizens. When leaders listen to praises of their followers who benefit from them, there is this tendency to feel that all is well. The citizens who bear the brunt of this misinformation hold their representatives in their hearts as enemies. There is a cold war in Nigeria today between the citizens and their political leaders in this regard.
It behooves our political leaders and their appointees to always listen to the voices of the people and show empathy. Political leaders should communicate with the citizens timely. Ministers and commissioners for information should develop strong feedback modalities and dialogue with the people. They should communicate the feelings of the people to their leaders or bosses and desists from telling them what they want to hear. This would not only promote peaceful coexistence but also enhance rapid development of the Nigerian project.
Rev Dr. Ime Johnson is the National Vice President of Christ Gospel Church of Nigeria. Phone/Whatsapp: +2348102980515, Email: imehsonekpo@gmail.com
