Emir Sanusi II Urges Ministers to Prioritize Honest Advice over Sycophancy to Aid Economic Recovery.
In a recent address at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference in Abuja, the Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, cautioned ministers and presidential aides against succumbing to sycophancy.
He emphasized the crucial need for providing the President with truthful and constructive feedback to effectively address Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Sanusi criticized the prevailing culture of excessive praise directed at political leaders during official gatherings, asserting that it undermines authentic dialogue and good governance. He lamented that those who offer candid assessments are often labeled as adversaries of the state.
“Our leaders tend to heed only those who tell them what they want to hear,” Sanusi remarked. He highlighted the detrimental impact of blind loyalty on Nigeria’s progress and urged public servants to restore integrity by speaking truthfully to those in power.
While commending the Tinubu administration for its difficult yet necessary economic reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, Sanusi warned that these measures must be accompanied by responsible governance and financial prudence to be effective.
He expressed concern about continued borrowing, stating, “If you stop paying subsidies but continue borrowing more, you’ve filled one hole only to dig another.” The former CBN governor stressed the importance of managing the savings achieved through these reforms responsibly.
In a call for fiscal discipline, Sanusi proposed reducing government waste by decreasing the number of ministers and curtailing excessive expenses associated with official travel. He questioned the necessity of maintaining a large cabinet and urged leaders to exemplify sacrifice in governance.
At the conference, fellow speaker Atedo Peterside echoed Sanusi’s sentiments on fiscal responsibility, noting that the true benefits of reform will only materialize through wise spending and support for the vulnerable.
Both Sanusi and Peterside agreed that Nigeria’s path to recovery relies not only on bold economic reforms but also on a moral reawakening among those in positions of power. Sanusi concluded with a powerful analogy, stating, “Good policy without good governance is like planting a tree and refusing to water it.”
