The Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, has warned ministers and presidential aides to give their principals honest advice. He recently urged ministers and aides not to turn themselves into mere praise singers.
Speaking in Abuja at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference and Book Launch, Sanusi revealed that Nigeria’s leadership has gotten to the point where those who tell the truth are tagged enemies of the government.
According to him, the growing culture of excessive praise for political leaders during official functions has to stop because it prevents honest feedback and good governance.
He stated that Nigerian leaders must also start listening to those who are not focused on only telling them things they want to hear.
“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.
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.
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Sanusi further urged ministers and presidential advisers to restore integrity to public service by speaking truth to power.
He concluded by saying that blind loyalty is one of Nigeria’s greatest obstacles to progress.
“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 added.
