How Buhari’s praise singers mocked him after he left office – Nasarawa gov

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has expressed disappointment that many of those who lavishly praised former President Muhammadu Buhari while he held power have now turned against him.

Buhari, who first ruled as a military head of state before returning as a democratically elected president in 2015, completed two consecutive four-year terms in office.

Speaking at the 2nd Raymond Dokpesi Diamond Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja, Governor Sule said he witnessed firsthand how political sycophancy works in Nigeria.

“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 had ever seen.’ These are the same people but different moments. That is what sycophancy is all about,” PUNCH quoted Sule as saying.

At the event, the Nasarawa governor was honoured with an NIPR award and fellowship. He also paid tribute to the late media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, commending his boldness in founding Nigeria’s first private radio and television stations during the military era.

Sule described that period as one when “nearly everything was controlled by government.”

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