Ken

Nigeria’s political history offers a lesson many would rather ignore.
In 1998, five political parties—UNCP, CNC, DPN, NDP, and GDM—collapsed their differences to adopt Sani Abacha as a sole presidential candidate. Not out of conviction, not out of competence—but out of fear and the belief that power was invincible.
They chose alignment over accountability.
They chose survival over principle.
History, however, delivered a verdict no political calculation could predict. Power proved mortal.
Fast forward to today, and the pattern feels all too familiar.
Across Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly within the orbit of the All Progressives Congress (APC), we are witnessing a resurgence of that same dangerous mindset—the idea that proximity to power guarantees relevance, protection, or success.
From opportunistic defections to the rise of blind loyalty movements like the “city boys” narrative, the signals are clear:
Many have chosen to follow power, not question it.
But let us be honest—
No democracy thrives where loyalty replaces competence.
No nation progresses where criticism is silenced by patronage.
No system survives where justice is sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.
Sycophancy did not build nations yesterday.
It will not build Nigeria today.
If anything, it weakens institutions, emboldens impunity, and distances leadership from the realities of the people.
The tragedy is not just in leadership failure—but in the willingness of followers to normalize it.
Nigeria’s salvation will not come from echo chambers of praise-singers or from those who see governance as a ladder for personal gain. It will come from courageous citizens, principled leadership, and a culture that values truth over allegiance.
Until then, we must confront this hard truth:
We still have a long road ahead.