Former permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Alhaji Maitama Sule, has blamed the rising level of crimes in the country on injustice and lack of qualitative leadership.
Sule, who spoke in Abuja yesterday as a guest during the 70th birthday celebration of Chief Ojo Maduekwe, told the dignitaries that in order for the country to move forward, there was need to ensure that only worthy leaders were elected to hold public offices. The cerebral orator also hinted that it was time for the country to produce true leaders and not looters or rulers.
He said Nigeria is destined to be great among the comity of nations, but insisted that such greatness was only predicated on qualitative leadership.
Sule said: “The leaders we had in the past made Nigerians great. Nigerians were proud and respected in the world. These founding fathers were historic. They always thought of Nigeria first. They were not greedy. If we have leaders who are good, godly and focused, everything will be alright. We want leaders and not rulers. We need leaders and not looters. We want leaders who will rule with the hand of honesty. We need leaders who will not steal and are not corrupt.
“I refuse to accept the claim that religion and tribalism are the main problems of Nigeria. All the religions teach the same values. Christians are thought to love one another. Same thing goes for Muslims. All the religions of God teach peace. Nigerian Muslims are more religious than other Muslims in other parts of the world. But do we practice what Islam says? No religion teaches that you should kill others who do not share your faith.
“You go into politics to serve the people. The most important thing is justice for all. Again, both religions encourage us to be just to all. Injustice is behind every crisis. Once there is justice and fair play, we will not have crisis.
“We have fallen by the way side. What is happening in Nigeria is not in our character. The government institutions have broken down. Respect for elders is not there. There is lawlessness and chaos in the polity. There is corruption in the country. What is responsible for all these is lack of leadership. Nigeria is a potential great country. We have been destined by God to lead Africa.
“I have a dream that Nigeria will one day be united. I have a dream that Nigeria will be our brother’s keeper. I have a dream that Nigeria will be respected among comity of nations. In order to realize this dream, we must have good leaders. May God grant that we may have good leaders.”
Meanwhile, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has blamed the monumental loss of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general elections on wrong choice of candidates by the party.
He said the PDP would have opted for the first 11 in order to win the elections, instead it went for the wrong candidates. He said his party has now been saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the opposition at the federal level.
His words: “Ojo Maduekwe is my mentor. I know that God loves you. Nigerians love you. You are celebrating your birthday. PDP did what we have always done in the past 16 years. We did not use our best 11 and that was why we lost the elections. We have now been saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the opposition. I believe that even in business or in any endeavour, we must go for the best 11.” The Nation
