Is Vanguard’s apology a Road to Damascus moment that marks a turning point in the fight against sycophancy in Nigeria?

By Ayo Akinfe

(1) One of the biggest drawbacks against Nigeria’s socio-economic development is sycophancy, the rankadede culture and doing anything for the oga at the top in a bid to get your share of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. As a people, we turn a blind eye to the most heinous crimes for personal gain

(2) Over the years, we have witnessed countless instances of people doing what is blatantly wrong just to curry favours with the powers-that-be. Even when IBB annulled June 12, there were some people happy to take out newspaper ads hailing him as a messiah

(3) When Abacha made himself the adopted candidate of Nigeria’s five political parties, he found willing accomplices. The same applied when OBJ tried to give himself a third term and with the Yar’Adua cabal when Turai, Ibori and the others tried to rule Nigeria on behalf of a dead man

(4) As we all know, Nigeria has now incurred a debt of $9.6bn as a result of the Yar’Adua cabal hiding affairs of government from the then acting president Dr Goodluck Jonathan. That in itself should have been enough to kill sycophancy in Nigeria

(5) Contrast all of this with the number of ministers who have resigned from Boris Johnson’s government because they do not agree with his Hitlerite decision to suspend Parliament and his eccentric and self-destructive No-Deal Brexit agenda. People who disagree with him in principle just walk away despite the loss of office and perks involved

(6) Today in Nigeria, we have another cabal in Aso Rock made up of the likes of Abba Kyari, Mamman Daura, Isa Funtua, Babagana Kingibe, Boss Mustapha, Lawal Daura, Babachir Lawal, etc. They have over the last week launched a ferocious campaign against the vice president, issuing press releases against him on a daily basis as they seek to discredit and sideline him on the run-up to 2023. No doubt they have a clear agenda and will stop at nothing to realise it. I for one do not underestimate their ruthlessness and would not put anything past them, even if it meant opening gas chambers to execute political opponents

(7) None of us should be surprised that this cabal has found a willing accomplice in Timi Frank. They can offer him government contracts, houses, land, wads of cash and juicy appointments just to get him onside. Over the last week, Mr Frank has made wild and libellous claims that were totally manufactured and unfounded. Yesterday, a major national newspaper came out to apologise for publishing his lies, saying they were baseless and without foundation

(8) Nigerians are in the habit of blaming the government for all their woes but deep down, they know they are the main source of the problem. I recall an incidence in Los Angeles when OJ Simpson walked into a restaurant. Everyone there walked out in protest. How many Nigerians would walk out of a restaurant today if the self appointed prime minister Abba Kyari who effectively governs our nation, walked in?

(9) I just hope that the actions of Vanguard mark a turning point in our socio-economic development. I would love it if as from today, Nigerians opt to walk away from evil and what is wrong irrespective of the material comforts it will involve giving up

(10) If Timi Frank wants to etch his name in gold, he should return whatever the cabal have given him and come out to confess that he was asked to lie. If he does this, it might just constitute a “Road to Damascus” moment for Nigeria