City Crime
Sycophance As Mischief Weapon
Not many African leaders would know or recall some of the last groans and admonitions of late Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, on his death-bed, far away from his country. Though inaudible and made in a state of delirium, one of the statements was interpreted to mean: “Don’t listen to praise singers…” the praise singers meant here included local and foreign advisers, contractors, consultants, witchdoctors and other meddlers in the seat of power.
One clever form which mischief takes in any society is the flattery of rich, powerful and successful individuals. Such flatterers may be full of venom and envy within but often have some bitterness hidden under praises. The culture of sycophancy is not confined to individuals alone, because nations and organisations indulge in it for various purposes. Praise singing is a most powerful weapon for paving the way towards eventual fall of leaders, especially those who fall prey to the deadening poison of flattery. One General Obregon was quoted as warning that the enemy to fear is not the one that threatens you, but the one that flatters you.
Self-effacement is a distinguishing feature of good leadership, especially leaders who have a strong feeling of shame. Thus praises and flatteries become unbearable injuries to reputable leaders. Like every form of slavish addiction and irresistible propensities, the misleading and deadening effects of flatteries soon drive those who succumb to them into self-destruction. Praise singers and flatterers rarely mean well.
Leaders, especially in developing countries, should learn the lesson that a leader is at his best when people rarely know that he exists. This is usually demonstrated through shunning publicity and the limelight, in spite of achievements made. By the way, leaders are elected to perform and serve and not to listen to or encourage praises and flatteries. It is usually those who have little or nothing to offer the masses while in office, who encourage the activities of professional sycophants as a means of diverting attention away from their deficiencies.
The business of governance is so demanding that the task requires utmost degree of privacy so as to have the right condition for inner guidance. What time or inclination would a serious-minded leader have to carouse with flatterers and money-bags longing for recognition and attention? While a large section of populace languish in agonies and hunger, huge sums of money are often spent deliberately to foster lip-services, flatteries and praises of regimes. Political parties are known to spend huge sums of money for propaganda and image laundering, in which some mischief makers use the mass media as instruments.
Mechanism of mischief making include the practice of carrying along and pampering certain segments of the populace, while containing the masses through intimidation. This practice results in the rise of cult groups and militants who long for recognition and accommodation by engaging in anti-social and mischievous activities. Sycophants who feed leaders with misleading and wrong information are usually the patrons of groups of cultists and militants.
A statement made by General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) when he became a student in a British university after he was overthrown is worth recalling. In a private conversation, he remarked that we overlook the power of vested interests to our own detriment. Therefore, mischief makers operate under various interest groups, with various goals, whose pursuits often involve the use of flatteries as weapons of trade. It is obvious that groups of predators have evolved in Nigeria whose stock-in-trade include the use of various means to subvert whatever that would threaten their agenda. For example, any move towards a genuine restructuring of the polity would be subverted.
The military introduced a culture of “settlement” in the nation’s politics as a means of perpetuation of power. The mechanism of that settlement culture is a part of what is commonly called corruption. A former head of state unwittingly let the cat out of the cage when he said: “If you can’t beat them, join them”. A formidable power structure can be approached by two legitimate means, namely: Willing submission or treachery via praises and flatteries. Appeasement through settlement is a part of the bargaining process, but such palliative measure also involves “selling out”.
Those who sell out their constituencies for private personal gains, remain prey to the fury of embittered masses. The suffering and smiling masses have been known to bring down powers that are insensitive and tyrannical. Such embittered masses are usually the ready instruments used by contending power blocs to cause mischief for leaders and rulers who cherish praises and flatteries.
The axiom that a chain is as strong as its weakest link can mean that the pride and power of any nation do not lie personally in the hands of those who wield state power. Rather, real political power lies with those weakest segments of the nation who are often ignored and downtrodden. No amount of flatteries and sycophance can alter the fact that the difference between cosmetics and reality is always clear. But there are political mischief mongers who would say that fair is foul and foul fair, according to what personal gains they make.
Apart from sycophancy, another disturbing handicap which afflicts governance is when it is perceived as a clever fraud and a cult which caters for only its loyalists and praise singers. This system of exclusion and flatteries in the business of governance have been responsible for some of the lingering challenges in the country. The rate of endless commendations showered on public figures should not continue. Those who do great deeds for the well-being of humanity rarely look for applause or acknowledgement because their works speak for them.
It is a great satisfaction to kindle some light where there is darkness and then leave the scene unrecognised and unsung. How can a nation develop where people are obsessed with praises, vanities and self-adulation? Nigeria should map out dignified directions that can inspire the citizens towards noble deeds in silence, without looking for praises. Those who long for the limelight long for praises, which may not be sincere.
Dr. Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
The Rivers State Government has vowed to enforce strict compliance with approved building plans by property owners and developers in the State to guarantee safety and adherence to regulatory standards.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, in his inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Directors and staff of the Ministry, said he would ensure full implementation of the Physical Planning Development Law of the State.
He warned that the Rivers State Government will no longer condone a situation where developers make deliberate adjustment or completely deviate from approved building plan in the execution of their projects without recourse to the Ministry.
Hon. Bipi solicited the cooperation of the civil servants of the Ministry while promising to run an open door policy and be easily accessible.
He also promised to right the wrongs, make a positive impact and leave an enduring legacy in the Ministry.
He promised to enhance the physical landscape and aesthetic of Old and New GRA as well as other parts of Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Surv. Wisdom Hebron, assured the Commissioner of maximum cooperation to foster a harmonious working environment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the payment of N85,000.00 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the employ of the Rivers State Government.
This is the agreement reached during a closed door meeting presided over by the Governor and attended by representatives of organised labour under the auspices of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in the State at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who spoke on behalf of the Government, affirmed that Governor Fubara has graciously approved a new minimum wage of N85,000.00, adding that the government will begin in November, 2024.
Dr George said, “He (Gov Fubara) has pronounced a figure that is higher than the National Minimum Wage. He pronounced a sum of N85,000.00, which is higher than the minimum wage that was prescribed nationally.
“So, as the Head of Service and a major stakeholder in the labour family, I am very happy to say that the Rivers State Civil Servants have never had it this good since the inception of this State.
“The labour union leaders and all the other major stakeholders were happy with this development,” he added.
Responding to possible payment of arrears, Dr Nwaeke, said it is yet to be determined because a technical committee has been set up to critically work out a tenable payment chart, which will cater to issues of arrears.
He clarified, “Issues of arrears will be worked out by the committee that I am going to be Deputy to the SSG. We are already going to work on it in a technical committee that will now get the nitty gritty of the payment and inform the press later.”
On his part, the Rivers State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Emecheta Chuku, explained that this is their first meeting with Governor Fubara to discuss the issue of the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Comrade Chuku pointed to the fact that the gracious approval of N85,000.00 new minimum wage is very appeasing to the labour leaders, adding that it demonstrates love for the workers.
He explained, “For the Governor to come, against all the crisis, against all the things that he is facing and more, to say he will pay N85,000.00 minimum wage, I think our hearts are full of joy.
“Of course, we have no doubt, knowing the kind of person we have as our Governor. He is a decent man; very responsible enough; and grew through the rank and file of the system. He understands what it takes to earn a living salary; he understands the difference between gifting money and paying somebody salary that can sustain him or her from the first day to the last day of the month.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, noted that the amount approved by Governor Fubara puts Rivers State Government ahead of Lagos State as the highest minimum wage paying State to civil servants in Nigeria.
He stressed, “Why do I say that? Lagos State said N85,000.00 and Rivers State is paying N85,000.00. The IGRs of Lagos State and Rivers State are not the same. So, for the Governor to agree to pay the same rate with Lagos, that means we are at the top of it.
“We are the best, and we want to continue to commend the Governor. We assure him that, as far as this State is concerned, labour is going to stand with him. We will be with him even until the next eight years.
“I want to commend His Excellency, Executive Governor of Rivers State, our own Number One Worker in Rivers State, he has, once again, proven that the workers in Rivers State gave him an award on May Day as the Champion of Labour, as the Most Labour-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. He, again, has shown that to us today, and I want to commend him.”
He added that they were returning to the State Secretariat Complex to inform workers of the Governor’s magnanimity and benevolence towards civil servants in the State.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has felicitated Muslim faithful as they celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, urging them to show love, tolerance, perseverance, patriotism and commitment to the growth and development of the State.
Governor Fubara, in a message in Port Harcourt, the State capital, urged the Muslim Ummah to use the lessons of the 12th day of the third month of Rabi’ al-Awwal to reflect on the core teachings of the Holy Prophet, and interceed for one another as exemplified by the sacrifices He made for humanity.
The Governor charged the faithful in the State and across the country to commit to ensuring that they continue to benefit from the genuine policies and programmes of government put in place to make live easy for all living and doing business in the State, without discrimination.
He said, “I, on behalf of the government and good people of Rivers State, heartily felicitate all Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to honour the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and urge for prayers for the revival and unity of Nigeria.
“The occasion, yet again, provides an opportunity to reflect deeply on the need for greater application of the Prophet’s teachings bordering on piety, charity, patience, resilience, justice and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Governor Fubara assured the Muslim community in Rivers State, and indeed, all residents of the resolve of his administration to sustain the tempo of providing critical projects and social services to improve the quality of life of the people.
