By Edith Imoisili
Abuja – Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives has charged young lawmakers to shun the arrogance of power and be prepared to stand for the truth regardless of who is for or against it or even when the consequences are dire.
Dogara who spoke at a Conference organised by the #NotTooYoungToRun Movement for young lawmakers at both the national and state levels, said that qualified youths who have the capacity to serve with distinction are abundant in Nigeria and though they have been kept on the sidelines since 1999, they must be disciplined and be prepared to afflict themselves in order to bring comfort to broken Nigerians.
The Speaker further said that they should be reminded that true greatness only comes while serving others and not when serving themselves or godfathers, as Nigerian electorate have now become more sophisticated and increasingly aware of the power of the ballot.
“In your new calling, it is germane that you shun the arrogance of power. If you do not stay connected to the grassroots and those who have yielded their mandates to you, you will ultimately pay at the polls. The Nigerian voter is becoming increasingly aware of the power of the ballot, and they demonstrated it in some states where elections truly counted”.
“I have no doubt that you are all familiar with the maxim that says “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” If you look at our history, you will find it strewn with strong men that have abused due process, spurn the Rule of Law. Why? Power! You are all witnesses to the serial nepotistic abuses across boards – Federal, States and Local – of those who wield power. Will that be your legacy? Will you stand differently? To stand differently does not mean to be unreasonable, but to take firm and decisive actions that are in the interest of the people”.
Speaker Dogara urged them to remember that they carry the burden and the promises of a generation that must not fail, that must be on the wings of discipline that produces character, without which they cannot be men and women of influence and in that case, without influence as character is not only that your word is your bond.
“Unfortunately, the leadership model we have practiced 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 so 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 worshiper”.
Citing happenings at the National Assembly to further buttress his point, Hon Dogara pointed out that the Federal legislature has often charted its leadership course because the lawmakers are well aware that external interests will never find the convergence to legislate for the people or hold the Executive to account.
He further said that it is in this regard that as fresh legislators, such as the youths gathered at the event, need to demonstrate acute perspicuity that you will define the kind of leadership that will be answerable to them, the representatives of the people and the people they represent.
“My home state of Bauchi is one such place where the people taught an incumbent that arrogance of power is fatal. You can imagine a situation where a Governor will refer to the votes of a whole constituency as insignificant. But in the end, it was the ‘insignificant votes’ that ended his driving desire to return to office”.
