Gossip, Backbiting, and Leadership in Cross River State

By Okoi Obono-Obla 

Gossip, Backbiting, and Leadership in Cross River State

Gossip and backbiting are human character flaws as old as humanity itself, yet the scriptures roundly condemn them and admonish us to curb and avoid such practices because they are harmful. The scriptures instead urge us to love our neighbour and shun anything that undermines community and harmonious living.

Unfortunately, in Cross River State, gossip and backbiting have been elevated into powerful tools. Some small-minded and insecure politicians now use them as weapons to gain favour, blackmail colleagues, and win the hearts of political leaders who dispense patronage in a system where politics has become the greatest industry.

But when should any leader tolerate gossip or give room for people to come to them with tales and blackmail? Should leaders accept stories fabricated behind closed doors without giving those condemned the opportunity to be heard? Justice demands that no one should be condemned unheard. Yet, some leaders allow wicked individuals to contrive falsehoods against their friends, associates, and colleagues within the same party, using these lies to judge, condemn, or plot evil against them. Worse still, they elevate the very people who peddle such stories, mistaking insecurity and bad competition for loyalty.

A leader must always remember that he occupies a vantage position as a dispenser of justice and patronage. He is the centre of attraction, which makes selfish people eager to colonise, isolate, and corner him. Therefore, a wise leader should never give room to wicked individuals who seek to run down or blackmail others simply to gain favour.

Conclusion:
True leadership requires discernment, fairness, and the courage to resist manipulation. Leaders must guard against gossip and backbiting, ensuring that justice is not compromised by the schemes of selfish individuals. Only then can harmony, trust, and genuine progress thrive in Cross River State.