Following our bi-weekly conversation’s schedule, I am not supposed to be here today. Therefore, I have to start today’s edition of our discourse on a very apologetic note, owing to my inability to bring us last week’s edition. It was not as a result of negligence. I did not also take my readers for granted. There were circumstances that strongly impeded my efforts and I felt very deeply worried about my non-appearance last week. That is why I am using this opportunity to make a heartfelt apology, believing that you would accept it very kindly. I thank you for still being there despite the odds of life.
This edition is a follow-up one. It is in line with the series on O King, Live Forever, which we had some weeks back. I had earlier noted that, in the leader-follower equation, followers knew, as well as leaders (kings as we may choose to call them), that no mortal could ever live forever on this side of life. Yet, such an over-bloated, yet hollow, greeting was usually used as a mark of respect to and celebration of the kings (of the past). That meant something very robustly sycophantic to me, frankly speaking. But let me also state that it could possibly have been that in such places and times when such a statement was made, to be candidly fair enough, it was made in ‘utmost good faith’ or with every sense of sincerity and responsibility. I mean, they never did such with emotions laden or padded with the flavours of sycophancy. It was just natural and frank. Expectedly, it (the content) was as well acceptable within the context of their societies. That’s it!
Nevertheless, let us do or think something different(ly) here. There is the need to move away from them and their past. Now let us face us and the present. A look at and around things, events and people in our contemporary societies would be much needed here. That is the concern of today’s conversation. When we look around us, we see what I have here tagged ‘Sycophancy Unlimited’ in leader-follower interactions that manifests the ‘O-King-Live-Forever’ mentality or perspective. I do not claim to have very broadly known what it is like in all other societies or places, but what happens in my immediate environment is not far-fetched.
If you ask me my position on the issue of sycophancy, it is simply about someone or people having to zealously and senselessly offer hollow and insincere praises to a person or an institution in a perceived or real elevated position (especially in the public space or society) in order to gain some advantages from them in material, monetary or other terms. In this regard, such empty praises are given because the giver expects something in return. In such a situation, too, the giver knows that they are engaged in a sort of needless ‘singsong’ all in order to receive a groundless gain.
I get badly and worriedly baffled when I see how people live their lives around us, especially when it has to do with their relationship with their leaders and or those they perceive to be advantageously highly-placed. It is something very much akin to the mentality of O-King-Live-Forever, the thought which has preoccupied our minds for some time now. Does it not bother you? Or, put differently, have you not observed that there are those who engage in idolatrous respect for their leaders, and usually wish that such leaders would live forever sort of?
It is largely worrisome that because of the spirit of sycophancy, people bow before the thrones of the high and mighty in search of the crumbs that fall from their leaders’ tables. Even when a leader moves with faltering steps, full of foulness of speech and intentions, grossly unmasking their foibles, their followers aggressively keep on thoughtlessly praising-singing. Regardless of the wobbling steps of a leader, followers continue their chorus of sycophancy, all in a bid to secure or get some material, monetary or other gains.
The actuality of the fact is that, amidst this demonstration of sycophancy unlimited, richly enmeshed in a dance of self-deceit and self-destruction, both the leader and the led get destroyed. As they engage in this rain, reign and relishing of the futility of their praising-singing and praise-receiving, the follower is self-deceived and self-destroyed. Still in the process, the leader, as well, whether in the short or long run, gets self-deceived and self-destroyed.
At this juncture the question, then, is: What should be done amidst the prevalent practice of sycophancy unlimited? The crux of the matter in this writing is that sycophancy is actually a seed of self-deceit and self-destruction. It might appear to be an innocent and harmless thing or practice, at first sight, but, indeed, no sooner than later or no later than sooner, what it is becomes very obvious. Both leaders and followers should be on their guard to ward off the wallops of sycophancy for sycophancy unlimited is a fruitless venture to invest in.
Eze Echie, a Scholar, Prolific Author, Poet, Editor, Music Minister, Critic & Columnist, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He can be reached via this email address: ezeponders@gmail.com
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