By Asuquo Cletus
As the Nation, prepares for the 2027 elections, there’s a growing, disturbing and unnecessary trend in Cross River State that should worry every serious leader: the rise of sycophantic praise-singers who flood social media and public events with endless chants of “His Excellency Sweet Prince, can do no wrong.” From sponsored posts to coordinated hashtags, Governor Bassey Otu is being wrapped in a blind blanket of glorification that may feel warm today but could become politically suffocating, and dangerous tomorrow.
For the point of emphasis “appreciation is not a crime.” When a leader does well, the people should acknowledge it. But when praise becomes too loud, overly bloated, exaggerated, uncritical, and constant it stops being encouragement and becomes a dangerous distraction. Sycophancy is not support. It is a form of sabotage disguised as loyalty.
This is how bad governance starts not with evil intentions, but with an echo chamber that silences criticism. Governor Otu, if no one around you is willing to say “this policy isn’t working,” or “your people are hungry,” or “this road is still bad,” then your leadership is being hijacked by applause.
True progress doesn’t come from filters, beer parlour discussions and hashtags. It comes from honest feedback, hard truths, and the courage to listen to the uncomfortable. The same people hyping you today will turn against you tomorrow if things go wrong history has shown this over and over again in Nigerian politics.
Cross River State is still healing from years of empty promises and failed megaprojects from the Ayade’s administration, the imaginary super Highway, a story for another day. The people are watching closely not just your words, but your results. They don’t need grand slogans. They need jobs, roads, healthcare, safety, real governance, and not sponsored endorsements.
Governor Otu, you were elected to serve, not to be serenaded. Surround yourself with thinkers, not praise-singers. Embrace constructive criticism. Reward honesty, not flattery. Because at the end of the day, history will not judge you by the noise around you it will judge you by the impact you made when the clapping stopped.
Happy Second year Anniversary your excellency.
Asuquo Cletus Felix, a common man who writes from the trenches.
cletusasuquo039@gmail.com
