I recently coined a saying that seems particularly apt for the times:
“Feed a parrot long enough, and it will sing itself to death.”
Of course, parrots don’t literally sing themselves to death. But the lesson is simple: when someone is constantly fed by a master, they eventually lose the ability to think independently. Their only role becomes echoing whatever tune the master wants to hear.
The dangerous part? Most parrots don’t even realize they’ve become parrots.
This metaphor strikes at the heart of what I observe among some members of the City Boys Movement from the East.
Let me be clear: I admire many of these men. They’ve demonstrated extraordinary entrepreneurial skill, building businesses, creating wealth, and showing remarkable discipline in the marketplace. For that, they deserve respect.
But in politics, something shifts. The same critical thinking, ingenuity, and drive that built their businesses seem to vanish. In their political missteps—especially the constant chasing of “misyans” or political favor—it is hard to believe they are using the same minds that created their business empires.
In life, and especially in politics, individual opinion is not just acceptable—it is essential. Convictions, courage, and independent judgment define leadership. But when a man begins to insult his own people just to curry favor with his benefactor, he exposes a deeper truth:
He is weak.
His convictions are for sale.
And, worst of all, he has proven himself a cheap commodity.
What makes this troubling is the content of their political arguments. In functional societies, campaigns are built on evidence: measurable achievements, policies, and tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
For the City Boys of the East, the argument seems almost entirely distilled into two phrases:
1. “Results will come later.”
2. “Ndi-Igbo must align with the center.”
But align with what center exactly?
The center of hardship?
The center of insecurity?
The center of corruption that has penetrated deep into the fabric of the nation?
Somehow, the conversation has shifted from demanding fair, responsible, and accountable governance to celebrating proximity to political power—regardless of what that power represents.
Will closeness to the center actually improve life for the average citizen? If access to the center becomes the prerequisite for the people to benefit, what does that say about the system itself? And how have regions that have aligned with the center for decades fared in terms of real development?
The conversation has morphed from governance and accountability to: who is closest to the throne of political rascality?
Let me be explicit: no one is saying Ndi-Igbo should disengage from national politics. Engagement is necessary. Politics is negotiation. But negotiation without dignity is not strategy—it is surrender. History has never been kind to those who trade the dignity of their people for personal comfort.
Eventually, every master stops feeding the parrot. And when that day arrives, the parrot suddenly remembers it never learned how to fly.
For the City Boys—and indeed all of us—the lesson is clear: independence of thought, accountability to your people, and courage in the face of pressure are priceless. Wealth and proximity to power are fleeting; principles define legacy.
The true question is this: will we be parrots, singing only what we are fed, or will we remember to spread our wings and fly?
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