By Ewere Okonta
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www.ewereokontablog.org.ng
When I published “When Proximity Is Not Loyalty,” I knew it would provoke thought. I did not anticipate the avalanche. Calls poured in. Messages followed. Commendations came from people I deeply respect, men and women of power, experience, scars, and stories. Some said it was one of my finest pieces yet. Others spoke in hushed tones, sharing personal encounters with betrayal that still ache years later. A few, predictably, were uncomfortable; some with the message, others with me for daring to say it aloud.
That mix of applause, confession, and discomfort told me one thing clearly: we touched a nerve.
Betrayal is not an academic subject. It is emotional. It is personal. It is traumatic. And most painfully, it is intimate.
That overwhelming response fired me up to write this sequel. And I have chosen a blunt, unsettling title for a reason:
Beware of Dogs.
Why “Beware of Dogs”?
A dog is widely known as man’s closest companion; loyal, protective, dependable. The best guide dogs lead the blind. Security dogs guard lives and property. Dogs symbolize loyalty.
But here is the irony.
When you see a sign that reads “Beware of Dog,” it is not warning you about the dog outside the gate. It is warning you about the dog inside the compound.
The danger is already within.
That is the metaphor Nigerian political leaders must understand as we inch closer to another election cycle. The real threat is not always the opposition party, the rival godfather, or the loud critic on social media. The real danger is often closer, much closer.
Betrayal: Why It Hurts So Deeply
Betrayal cuts deep not merely because of the act, but because of who commits it.
If a stranger attacks you, you defend yourself and move on. But when a trusted aide, confidant, or “loyal” associate turns against you, the wound goes beyond politics, it pierces the soul. You replay conversations. You question your judgment. You doubt everyone else.
And that is why betrayal is such a powerful weapon.
Those who betray rarely come with fangs bared. They come with smiles, loyalty oaths, prayers, and exaggerated devotion. They win your heart before they strike your back.
Beware of the Dogs Inside
As Nigeria prepares for elections, political leaders must pay closer attention to the dogs inside the compound, not the noise outside the gate.
Be careful of:
* Personal aides who know your movements better than you do
* Gatekeepers who control who sees you and who doesn’t
* Cooks who hear private conversations while serving meals
* Confidants who know your fears, secrets, and weaknesses
* PA’s and SA’s who handle sensitive documents and strategy
* Side relationships that create emotional blackmail and silent leverage
* And yes, Pastors and spiritual leaders, who cloak manipulation in prophecy, prayer, and “divine instruction”
This last group deserves special mention. Many political betrayals have been midwifed on prayer altars. Not all spiritual leaders are scams, but some are the most sophisticated political brokers in religious garments. They anoint ambition, sanctify betrayal, and bless coups; political or otherwise.
The Mole: The Enemy with Your Identity Card
Every serious political structure has a mole. The mistake leaders make is assuming moles announce themselves.
They don’t.
Moles are often the most enthusiastic supporters. They arrive early, leave late, quote the leader more than the leader quotes himself. They defend you aggressively in public and dissect you mercilessly in private.
Signs of a Mole in a Group:
1. Selective Loyalty – Loyal to you publicly, but loyal to themselves privately
2. Information Hoarding – Always knows things but never explains how
3. Excessive Access-Seeking – Always pushing to be closer, more indispensable
4. Subtle Sabotage – Missed meetings, delayed messages, “innocent” mistakes
5. Gossip as Strategy – Constantly briefing you against others to isolate you
6. Over-Spiritualization – Using prophecy or destiny talk to justify power moves
7. Timing Their Exit – Disappearing at critical moments, reappearing after damage is done
The mole’s ultimate goal is not service, it is positioning.
How Betrayals Are Carefully Manufactured
Betrayal is rarely impulsive. It is cultivated.
The betrayer first appears faithful, sometimes more faithful than everyone else. They serve without complaint. They volunteer for difficult tasks. They protect you fiercely from criticism. Slowly, they win your confidence.
Then they begin to own space around you.
They filter information.
They influence perception.
They frame narratives.
By the time they strike, they are not outsiders attacking power; they are insiders reclaiming it, or so they tell themselves.
Most betrayals are not driven by hatred. They are driven by ambition, insecurity, entitlement, and the hunger to be seen.
Managing the Dogs, Not Just Fearing Them
Wise leaders do not just hunt moles, they manage them.
Not every betrayer needs to be confronted. Some need to be contained. Strip them of sensitive access. Limit their reach. Let systems, not emotions, dictate power.
Rotate roles.
Audit loyalty through responsibility.
Never allow one person control over information, access, and execution.
Above all, stop confusing loyalty with noise. Silence can be loyal. Praise can be deceptive.
Final Word
This is not a call to paranoia. It is a call to discernment.
Every leader will face betrayal, it is part of leadership’s dark curriculum. But the wise leader survives it by understanding one truth:
The most dangerous dogs are not barking outside your gate.
They are lying quietly inside your compound; watching, waiting, smiling.
So, as the political drums grow louder and ambitions grow bolder, leaders must pause and read the sign again:
BEWARE OF DOGS.
Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor.
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