Gov Sule: Sycophants betrayed Buhari after exit

Gov Sule: Sycophants betrayed Buhari after exit

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has taken a swipe at political sycophants who, he said, once lavished praise on former President Muhammadu Buhari but have now turned against him since leaving office.

Speaking in Abuja over the weekend at the 2nd Raymond Dokpesi Diamond Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Governor Sule warned that flattery in leadership could erode integrity and derail governance.

“I have seen people sit in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari and say, ‘You are the best ever.’ But the minute he left office, they began to say, ‘He was one of the worst presidents we’ve had.’ These are the same people—just different moments. That is what sycophancy is all about,” Sule said.

The event, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, also saw Governor Sule conferred with a Fellowship of the Institute. It drew top government officials, media professionals, and communication experts who paid glowing tributes to the late media mogul and founder of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

READ ALSO:

• TCN tower vandalised, power supply disrupted in Borno, Yobe
• Nigeria’s insecurity not religious, says Vatican Secretary of State
• NECO opens London exam centre to serve Nigerians in diaspora

Reflecting on his political journey, Sule recounted his first attempt to contest the governorship in 2007 after returning from the United States, describing it as an eye-opener to the murky realities of Nigerian politics.

“At the end of every meeting, they would ask for money. I’d say I don’t have naira, I have dollars—and they’d say, ‘That’s okay!’” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.

He also spoke on resolving border clashes between farmers and herders along the Nasarawa–Benue boundary, noting that he chose not to inherit the hostilities between his predecessor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, and former Benue governor, Samuel Ortom.

“My father always told me not to inherit enemies. That’s why I led a delegation of traditional rulers to visit Governor Ortom, and we addressed the issues comprehensively,” he said.

Sule credited his emergence as governor in 2019 to Al-Makura’s support, recalling how the former governor encouraged him to run while he was still with the Dangote Group.

READ ALSO:

• Ndoma-Egba exposes 62-step payment process, deep corruption at NDDC
• NDLEA raids Lagos club, arrests Pretty Mike, over 100 others in drug bust
• Hisbah arrests 25 over alleged same-sex wedding in Kano

“I will forever be grateful to Al-Makura,” he declared, contrasting his loyalty with the betrayal Buhari faced.

Paying tribute to Dokpesi, Sule described him as a fearless media trailblazer who broke government monopoly during the military era.

“Dokpesi was not afraid to speak truth to power, even during difficult times,” he said.

In his remarks, NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, commended Governor Sule for donating land for the institute’s first global Public Relations University in Nasarawa State. He said the project was at an advanced stage and would serve as a hub for training ethical communicators and transformational leaders.

The lecture drew participants from government, academia, civil society, and the media, all of whom celebrated Dokpesi’s legacy of courage, innovation, and advocacy for free expression.

Gov Sule: Sycophants betrayed Buhari after exit