Power, Patronage & The Cost Of Political Praise
KAA
A Metaphor for Political Dependence
A sharply worded political commentary has used the metaphor of a parrot to criticise what the writer describes as blind loyalty among some supporters of the “City Boy” political movement from Nigeria’s South-East.
The author begins with a striking phrase: “Feed a parrot long enough and it will sing itself to death.” While acknowledging that parrots do not literally sing themselves to death, the writer uses the image to argue that prolonged dependence on political patrons can erode independent thinking.
According to the piece, individuals who are constantly rewarded by powerful benefactors may gradually lose the capacity for honest judgment, choosing instead to repeat only what those in authority want to hear.
Praise Mixed With Criticism
Despite the harsh tone, the commentary does not dismiss its targets entirely. The writer expresses admiration for many of the individuals involved, particularly for their entrepreneurial achievements.
They are described as disciplined businesspeople who have created wealth and demonstrated commercial acumen. Yet the article contrasts this economic success with what it sees as weak political reasoning.
The central argument is that competence in business does not automatically translate into sound civic judgment, especially when public advocacy appears motivated by access rather than principle.
Debating “Alignment With the Centre”
A key focus of the commentary is the recurring political argument that the South-East must “align with the centre” to gain relevance or development benefits.
The writer questions what such alignment means in practical terms, asking whether proximity to federal power should outweigh demands for accountability, security, and economic relief.
The article raises broader concerns about a political culture in which access to power is sometimes treated as an achievement in itself, regardless of policy outcomes.
Negotiation or Surrender?
While the author accepts that engagement with central authority is part of politics, a distinction is drawn between negotiation and submission.
The commentary argues that political bargaining should be rooted in dignity, reciprocal benefit, and strategic interests—not symbolic loyalty or public attacks on one’s own community.
This reflects a wider debate in Nigerian politics about how regions and interest groups should relate to ruling coalitions.
The Broader Warning
The concluding metaphor returns to the parrot: a creature dependent on its master for food, only to discover too late that it never learned to fly.
In political terms, the warning is clear. Movements built solely on patronage may provide short-term rewards, but can leave supporters exposed when power shifts.
Beyond its rhetoric, the piece speaks to enduring national questions about conviction, opportunism, and the cost of trading principle for access.
