THE Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared he will continue to tell the truth to those in power even if certain Nigerian politicians find him uncomfortable. He urged decision-makers to heed his counsel as someone who cares about the welfare of the people.
Professor Patrick Lumumba, a former director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, advised Nigerian leaders to constantly endeavor to do what is right and warned that there would always be a day of reckoning if they did not.
Both leaders gave this counsel at Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki’s 10th Memorial Anniversary Lecture yesterday in Abuja.
The Anniversary with the theme, “The Leadership and Followership Debate,” was well attended by dignitaries from the two main political parties in the country – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sultan, who chaired the occasion, said the topic chosen by the organisers was apt and important.
He said, “We are into political activities and we are looking for leaders to steer the ship of State to an excellent destination, we must look at who a leader should be, what leadership should not be, what we should do as followers to ensure we have a good leader.”
“Sometimes when we say the truth as it is, some leaders don’t feel so good about it, but we will continue saying the truth in whatever we do and whatever we say.
“When we do so, leaders should take such comments, as advice from people who are so concerned about what happens to the people that the Almighty Allah place under their care as leaders, so that you can discharge and acquit yourself most honorably here on earth.”
The monarch charged those in authority to uphold the truth at all times and to be honest, transparent, and accountable.
In his memorial talk, Lumumba said that it was time for Nigerian and African leaders to do rid themselves of colonial remnants and achieve what was right for the African continent.
He said that leaders had a responsibility to carefully serve the people they are in charge of, not to be serviced by them.
