Shooting Ourselves in the Foot: A Narrative of Sycophancy in Political Communication


Keyword : Sycophancy .Political communication .Objectivity .Democracy


Author(s) : Ifeanyi F. Didiugwu & Okechukwu Chukwuma

Abstract :   

Effective political communication is a necessary lubricant for a healthy democracy. It provides an avenue for actors in the political scene to engage themselves in the political arena. Political actors employ this form of communication to actualize their various political goals at different points in time. This is evidenced in Nigeria since the return to democracy in 1999. The critical question here is, following the way and manner political communication is utilized in Nigeria’s political arena, can one claim it is properly used? Thus, the main thrust of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which political communication has been properly engaged in advancing democracy in Nigeria. Using descriptive research method, this paper unveiled that developments in Nigeria’s political arena have signalled the degeneration of political communication to mere sycophantic adventure-a situation where politicians now use the platform to deceive the masses by promising what they will never do, and also, a situation where the media shower praises on politicians and political office holders on what they have not done. Roads and wonderful bridges are constructed on the pages of our newspapers; electricity is, as well, supplied in the airwaves. Hence, this paper, amongst others, made a case for both the media and the politicians to see political communication as a platform to consolidate Nigeria’s democracy by providing relevant accurate and objective information to the citizens for better decision making. 

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