Culture Of Flattery And Encomium

Recordings of inconsistent statements made by Late General Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, in a state of delirium on his death-bed, far away from his country, were interpreted to be pieces of advice to the living, particularly African leaders. Also, are late American General Obregon, was quoted to have said, close to his death, that the enemy to fear is not the one that threatens you, but the one that flatters you. One of the best detectives the Nigeria Police ever had, who was buried recently, once said that he wept for the Nigeria Police.
Sadly, one clever form which mischief takes in any society is the flattery of rich, powerful and successful individuals. When Idi Amin said repeatedly: “Don’t listen to praise singers”, nurses attending to him feared that “the General was out of his mind”. But the message is valid and pertinent, especially for Nigerian political leaders. Flatterers may be full of venom and envy even when they heap praises and encomium on leaders, in expectation for some attention or favour. Sadly, Nigerian brand of politics has evolved this culture of flattery and encomium.
Studies in the art of successful leadership, show that self-effacement is a major distinguishing feature of good leadership. Self-effacement also goes along with a strong feeling of shame. Thus, praises and flatteries become unbearable injuries to reputable leaders. Like every form of slavish addiction, the misleading and deadening effects of flatteries soon drive those who succumb to them into self-destruction. Praise singers and flatterers rarely mean well, but their services are often sought and utilised by some leaders who long for the limelight, even when they have little to offer the masses.
Nigerian leaders should learn the lesson that a leader is at his best when people rarely know that he exists, because, successful leadership requires some privacy for the purposes of communion and reflections.
Next to privacy is self con troll or restraint as a powerful tool in leadership. These qualities are demonstrated through shunning publicity and the limelight or being addicted to praises and encomium even when he makes some spectacular achievements. It is usually those who have little to offer the masses while in office, who encourage the activities of professional praise singers, as a mean of diverting attention away from their deficiencies.
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 money-bags and flatterers longing for recognition or favour? With the management principle of 20:80 or Pareto’s law, good leaders delegate 80 per cent of duties to capable subordinates, and then focus on 20 per cent of most critical functions or duties. The culture of adulation, fawning and encomium is deliberately fostered as a political gimmick to hoodwink the masses and as a narcotizing tool.
When General Yakubu Gown (rtd) became a student in a British University, those who interacted with him then would testify that he learned the lesson of avoiding flatterers and praise singers. He also absorbed the lesson of self-effacement.
Military regime introduced a culture of “settlement” in the nation’s politics as a means of perpetuation of power; but that culture took the form of fawning and sycophance by politicians. At the back of it lurked sinister goals and intents, usually clothed in cosmetic geniality. Do you trust politicians?
Some of the results of politics of intrigues and duplicity, include the fact that “father and son” could be armed with a dagger, hidden away in a cloak, even when having a chat or meal. A former head of state unwittingly revealed the culture of Nigerian politics, saying: “If you can’t beat them, join them”. Thus a formidable power structure can be approached, via two strategies, namely: willing submission, or by treachery, via flatteries and fawning. Those who sell out their constituencies for private personal gains, remain prey to the fury of embittered masses, but often resort to creating factions and use of paid agents of flatteries.
The axiom that a chain is as strong as its weakest link would mean that the pride and power of any nation lie in the willing loyalty and commitment of the masses, without a minority segment haggling with power. Thus real political power lies with the often ignored and downtrodden masses who are made to become pawns in power politics. Difference between politics that focuses on the biting needs of the masses and one that caters for the flambuoyant lifestyle of a minority power holders, is always clear to know. Use of clever strategies to maintain a stability in a state of gross inequilibrium, usually end in failures.
Another form of use of adulation as a tool of governance, is the installation of a clever fraud or cult which caters for only loyalists and praise singers. This system of exclusion seeks to reduce the masses to the position of beggars, so that loyalty can be bought with “palliatives”. Thus those who refuse to be bought over into the camp of “caterpillars of the commonwealth”, would continue to suffer in poverty. This system of exclusion and fawning in the business of governance has been responsible for some of the lingering challenges in the country; neither would it end soon.
Sadly, elders of political parties, leaders of thought and even traditional rulers, have been known to join in the league of attention-seekers and praise singers, for the wrong reasons. The rate of endless commendations and encomiums showed on public figures should not continue, especially where issues of public concern and interest, make partisanship a wrong step to take. Those who do great deeds for the well-being of humanity rarely look for applause, acknowledgement or reward, because their works speak for them. Truly, he is well paid that is well satisfied; which is the quality of great leaders.
It is a great satisfaction to kindle some light where there is darkness, and do something to alleviate sufferings and then leave the scene unrecognised and unsung. But Nigerian philanthropists would require television coverage to record their deeds. How can a nation develop where people are obsessed with praises, the limelight 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 and count their worth, are beggars.
Going back to General Idi Amin Dada of Uganda, his last days and dying declarations carry some food for thought. Without disparaging him and his achievements, the fact that he warned leaders against praise singers when a leader is in power, would mean that the futility of such vanities dawned on him, even though late in his life. The praise singers he referred to in dying utterances included local and foreign advisers, consultants, contractors, witch-doctors and meddlers in the seat of power. Nigerian leaders should learn that power is an aphrodisiac; an equivocator!
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

By: Bright Amirize