Shalom Olaseni, the executive director of the United Global Resolve For Peace (UGRFP), has urged Nigerians to break the chains of sycophancy and empower themselves to be active contributors to governance in the country.

Mr Olaseni stated this on Sunday in Akure at the inauguration of G18 Group Executives, a pressure group in Ondo.

Mr Olaseni said the prevalence of sycophancy in the Nigerian political landscape appeared to be a curse that created an insulated bubble around leaders who remained oblivious to the masses’ challenges.

He said sycophantic culture had since become a clog in the wheel of the country’s development, as good governance, leadership, and followership were complicated issues that demanded collective attention and commitment.

“Nigeria is currently at the crossroads. The current situation in the nation requires a mental shift where leaders and followers recognise their mutual responsibility for national development,” he said.

Mr Olaseni, also the state coordinator of Atunluse Initiatives, a socio-cultural group, said that establishing a crucial relationship between good leadership and followership was important, adding that effective leadership can never be achieved through a one-way approach.

He said the time had come for Nigerians to stop misunderstanding followership for passive obedience, as collective action required active participation and contribution to shared goals.

“Together, we can embark on a journey that can transform our socio-political rhetoric into reality, paving the way for a future marked by prosperity, equity and sustainable progress,” said Mr Olaseni.

(NAN)