Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said that Nigeria needs leaders who would not pander to godfathers but serve the peopl
Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said that Nigeria needs leaders who would not pander to godfathers but serve the people and build the nation. He disagreed with those who believed that the major disease afflicting the nation was financial corruption, saying it was rather, the absence of true leadership which in turn breads moral corruption and wickedness.
In his keynote speech, which he presented during a programme organised for youthful legislators-elect by YIAGA Africa with support from UKAid in support of the #NotTooYoungToRun law, Dogara told them to shun abuse of power and nepotism. He said, “Nigeria’s real disease is lack of leadership. Get a true leader that solves moral corruption and wickedness; when that happens, you will search for financial corruption to no avail. Unfortunately, the leadership model we have practised so far is the kind of leadership that produces sycophants who are expected to serve their political godfathers and not the people.
“Our so-called leaders have mastered the art of political witchcraft so much that if you are independent-minded you are automatically disqualified and if for any reason you are picked, then you have to surrender your soul for them to eat in small bites until you become their worshipper. While godfathers always pretend to be something other than who they really are, leaders do not. Imagine where we will be as a nation if all these godfathers that litter the political landscape become what or who they pretend to be?”
Dogara urged the legislators-elect to stand for the truth regardless of who is for or against it or even when the consequences are dire. He also told the lawmakers-elect that the value that was instrumental in driving them to seek for office was what would define how they carry themselves, what effort they would put into the art of lawmaking, and how much impact they desire to make not for themselves, but their constituents.
