15/03/2022
OF GBURUGBUURU DISCIPLESHIP AND SYCOPHANCY
We are in another electoral cycle, and all manner of political support groups are emerging in Enugu state. Many (if not all) are just put together to seek political offices, position certain individuals for appointments, and financial gains. None of the support groups have demonstrated any intellectual capacity to detach themselves from the sycophancy dance or promote any political ideology. One group that emerged recently that caught the attention of many on social media is a certain Gburugburu disciple.
The disciples announced themselves on social media platforms with their members adorning handmade caps with ‘Gburugburu disciples’ inscribed on them. Stories are also curated to show the need for the group at this particular period as we commence the 2023 electoral cycle. The group parades in its fold supposedly great minds, highly intelligent and vibrant young men in Enugu State. Men that are hungry and ready to ‘serve’ in various political capacities. However, the name and the optics in their mode of dressing suggest that the group did not interrogate and reflect on the intellectual significance of what they are embarking on. Like other political support groups, sycophancy is being taken too far. An act that tends to promote ‘cult-following’ rather than preserving the legacies and political ideology of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Political support groups globally are an essential vehicle through which political parties achieve electoral successes. They align with political party ideology and promote the same. Their focus is usually on carving out a political cause from the political party ideology and pursuing the same. They support candidates and, in most instances, prop up candidates that they believe will implement policies to achieve their cause. Political support groups outlive the electoral cycle, raising funds, building political structure, and mobilizing the political consciousness of the electorates. Even when they support candidates, Political support groups are ideally not tied to the fortune of a particular candidate in an electoral cycle. Sometimes it outlives generations as we learn from the political history of the revered Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Unfortunately, in the case of the GburuGburu Disciples, it is more of a replication of the defunct Daniel Kanu’s infamous Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA), than a platform for preserving the legacies of His Excellency. And we know His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will never allow himself to be ‘cult-followed’.
An individual that accepts the discipleship of a principal should be ready to promote his political ideology no matter the situation. Discipleship is about carrying the cross and making sacrifices. As Christians, we should be familiar with how the first disciples of Christ were persecuted. Despite the persecutions, the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ for more than two thousand years have strived to live Christ-like life and continued to preach His message of love and forgiveness. The true disciples of Jesus Christ are not doing it for any instant reward here on earth but for eternal reward in heaven. The disciples of political leaders such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, strive to actualize the political ideologies of the leaders by replicating their principles and values in political activities and public service. They believe that through this, the society will be restructured and transformed following the principles and political values of their leaders. They seek public and political offices to advance these ideologies. But first, they document and intellectually discuss those values and principles of their leaders.
His Excellency Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has earned a unique place in Nigerian political history that must not be trivialized by vain political groupings seeking attention and political positions. He is a political enigma and his approach to governance is a phenomenon. His style of politics and governance should not be sacrificed on the altar of sycophancy and social media optics without any value. He is courageous, humble, and focused with a vision of being an agent of social transformation. As a great political leader of our time, the legacy and political philosophy of Peace for (rural) development should be documented, intellectually discussed, and replicated at all levels of governance. This should be guided by the values and principles of selfless service, integrity, equity, justice, and vision. Unfortunately, mere social media postings that seek attention and beautifully designed caps inscribed GburuGburu disciples will not provide the valuable platform for preserving and sustaining the legacies and ideology of the great leader, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (GburuGburu).
