The Hidden Threat To Good Leadership: When Personal Assistants Become The Problem

While personal aides are expected to serve as a bridge between the public and their principals, in many cases, they have unfortunately become the very barriers that isolate these leaders from the people they were elected to serve.

*The Gatekeepers of Isolation*

It is a common experience across Nigeria to find people struggling to gain access to their elected representatives. But rather than a security protocol or a bureaucratic delay, it is often the PA who deliberately blocks access. Many of these assistants, instead of promoting the interests of their principals, are more concerned with protecting their personal relevance and influence. They see every intelligent or well-connected individual seeking access to their boss as a potential threat to their position.

The danger in this is profound. When the electorate cannot reach their representative, how does the leader gauge the needs, opinions, and expectations of the people? These aides, pretending to “manage access,” end up creating a false narrative around their boss—one that says “all is well” when, in reality, the people are disconnected, aggrieved, and feeling abandoned.

*Selfish Interests Over Public Service*

There are stories—too many to count—of citizens with meaningful proposals, innovative ideas, or urgent needs who tried to reach a political officeholder, only to be stopped by a PA. In one case, a young man who needed only a letter of recommendation to secure a life-changing job opportunity was denied simply because the aide felt the boy didn’t “respect” him. It is worth stating that the PA had no authority to issue such a letter; his only role was to facilitate the process. But out of personal ego, he ensured the request never reached the desk of his boss. The young man lost the opportunity, and the leader likely never even knew it existed.

In another instance, a media professional wrote a powerful article intended to promote the good works of a serving politician. The aide, fearing that the brilliance of the writer might draw the attention of his boss, buried the message—perhaps permanently.

*A Barrier to Truth and Progress*

Even more alarming is the fact that many PAs are afraid to speak the truth to their principals. Out of fear of losing their positions, they sugar-coat situations and avoid relaying the harsh realities from the grassroots. When their boss is in public, they orchestrate choreographed cheers and staged popularity, creating the illusion of wide support.

It is no surprise then that many of these leaders lose their re-election bids. They are often blindsided because they relied too heavily on filtered reports from self-serving aides who kept them in the dark.

*The Lesson for Political Leaders*

Political leaders must take this message seriously: your aide is not the people. No matter how trusted or loyal your PA may seem, you must find independent ways to connect with your constituents. Create open channels of communication—community town halls, social media interactions, and independent feedback mechanisms. Don’t let a gatekeeper ruin the bridge between you and your people.

Leadership is about accessibility and accountability. Any assistant who works to isolate you from your base is working against your long-term interest. Today he might shield you from complaints, but tomorrow he will also be the reason for your failure.

A Personal Assistant should be a facilitator, not a filter. They should protect their principal’s time, not block their access to the truth. As voters, we elect leaders, not their aides. And as leaders, elected officials must remember that their true loyalty lies with the people—not with the praise of a Personal Assistant who may be leading them into political isolation.

It is time we addressed this silent but dangerous sabotage happening in many political offices. The future of effective leadership depends on it.