Sule: Politicians Flattered Buhari in Office, Mocked Him After Exit

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has condemned the culture of sycophancy in Nigerian politics, saying that many politicians flattered former President Muhammadu Buhari while he was in office but disowned him after leaving power.

Sule made the remarks on Saturday at the 2nd Raymond Dokpesi Diamond Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Abuja.

“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 have ever seen.’ These are the same people but different moments. That is what sycophancy is all about,” Sule said.

The governor also paid tribute to the late media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, for his courage in establishing Nigeria’s first private radio and television stations during the military era, a time when nearly all media were government-controlled.

“We are here to celebrate an icon of the media. Dokpesi was not afraid to speak truth to power, even during difficult times,” he added.

Governor Sule’s comments come amid increasing discussions on the role of loyalty and integrity in public service, highlighting the challenges leaders face in navigating political flattery and opportunism.