Sanusi Warns Ministers, Aides Against Sycophancy, Urges Truthful Counsel to Tinubu

The Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, has cautioned ministers and presidential aides against becoming praise singers rather than offering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sincere advice needed to rebuild Nigeria’s struggling economy.

Speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference and Book Launch held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Emir emphasized that integrity and courage are essential traits for effective public service.

Sanusi lamented the rising culture of sycophancy in government, which he said discourages truth-telling and promotes poor decision-making.

> “Our leaders listen, but only to those who tell them what they want to hear. Nigeria has too many sycophants in government. When you tell the truth, you’re branded an enemy of the state,” he said.


He criticized public officials who excessively flatter leaders during meetings, saying such behavior undermines governance and public trust.

> “You sit in a meeting and before giving advice, people begin by thanking the President for his ‘great leadership.’ After laying that foundation, it is their view that prevails. When you tell the truth, you become the enemy,” Sanusi remarked, adding that he and businessman Atedo Peterside are often seen as “enemies” simply for speaking honestly.


Sanusi urged government officials to restore integrity to public service by offering candid counsel rather than empty praises.

> “Those who work with the President must understand that it’s not in their interest to become praise singers. You demean yourself and your office when you do that,” he warned.


Turning to the economy, the Emir commended President Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies and unify exchange rates, describing them as “painful but necessary steps” toward recovery.

However, he cautioned that such reforms would fail without fiscal discipline and transparent spending.

> “If you stop paying subsidies but continue borrowing more, you’ve filled one hole only to dig another. The real challenge now is the quality of spending and how the revenues saved are managed,” he explained.


Sanusi, who served as CBN governor between 2009 and 2014, noted that Nigeria’s current economic hardship stems from years of policy inconsistency and populist politics.

> “In 2012, we warned that subsidies were unsustainable, but politics prevailed. Now, those who led protests against subsidy removal have inherited the same problem and had no choice but to face reality,” he said.


He praised the professionalism of Finance Minister Wale Edun and CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso for their efforts to stabilize inflation and exchange rates but called for drastic cuts in government waste.

> “Why do we need 48 ministers? Why do we need long convoys and endless travel expenses? We cannot preach sacrifice to citizens while living in luxury at the top,” he said pointedly.


Also speaking at the event, Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, echoed Sanusi’s views, stressing that the government must ensure that savings from subsidy removal directly benefit ordinary Nigerians.

> “Pain does not automatically produce gain. The gain comes only if government spends wisely, eliminates waste, and supports the poor,” Peterside noted.


Both leaders urged the Tinubu administration to prioritize transparency, discipline, and accountability as the foundation for restoring public confidence and ensuring sustainable economic growth.