Evidence of leadership (2)
Distinguished Guests, we must also, at our sober moments, take courage to remind our leaders about the severity of Allah’s torment on those who violate this trust and the great
Distinguished Guests, we must also, at our sober moments, take courage to remind our leaders about the severity of Allah’s torment on those who violate this trust and the great reward which awaits those who fulfill it. We must also not fail to remind our leaders that our security and that of our families does not lie in how much wealth we have been able to accumulate but the effort we have expended to make a meaningful and sustainable improvement on the life of our people and the cumulative effect of this improvement on the prosperity and development of our respective States and Societies. Needless to add, there is no way we can make genuine progress as a nation when a significant number of our populace wallow in abject poverty unable to secure the requisite means for their sustenance and to cater to the health and educational needs of their families. Democracy must build a humane society capable of looking after the legitimate needs of its citizenry. For it to be truly successful, it must be able to bring real progress for all sectors of our diverse society.
Thirdly, we must all work hard to limit the influence of wealth in our society and to support those values that promote social responsibility, excellence and hard work. Presently, the challenge before us all is real and serious: How can one genuinely get elected in the current democratic dispensation without an overriding need to accumulate wealth? How can personality, character and record of performance become tangible assets in the public arena to translate into real electoral victory for those who possess them? How could we extol the virtues of those who promote the public interest and ensure that they receive the honour they deserve both during their life-time and after their demise? How can our religious and traditional institutions re-prioritize these societal values and ensure their institutionalization?
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Your Excellencies, Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished Guests, we cannot conclude these remarks without raising the issue of Muslim-Christian relations and the quest for peace and religious harmony in Nigeria. Despite the problems in Plateau State, we must state that genuine progress has been made in this arena. Kaduna State has, for long, remained a beacon of hope for all of us. It must remain so and we call upon all religious groups to join hands with the State Government to ensure the sustenance of peace, stability and development in this great State. We have been deeply touched by the statements of the Kaduna State Executive Governor during his inauguration. We are confident that he will translate them into real action for all to see and behold. The activities of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council [NIREC] also give us much cause for hope in a bright future for Inter-religious relations in Nigeria. In addition to the Council’s numerous activities, I was opportuned, last April, to address a Seminar organized by the National Executive Committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria, under the theme, Knowing Your Muslim Neighbour. As far as we know, this activity was the first of its kind in Nigeria and marks a very important milestone in Christian/Muslim understanding. Today we are reciprocating that unique and important event by also listening to our Christian brothers on how they see Islam and Muslims. I believe more of such events will be held in the near future.
Finally, I wish to end these remarks with a call on our politicians and those vying for Political Office: We must endeavour to insulate traditional rulers from partisan politics. As Community leaders, our people who belong to different political persuasions look up to us to safeguard the strategic interests of our society and to serve as guardians of its culture and value system. We must not be distracted from performing these vital societal roles. We advise politicians who aspire to national leadership to conduct their campaigns with honour and decorum. We must not trample on the cherished values upon which the socio-cultural and religious edifice of our society has been built.
