The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said he will continue to speak the truth to power even though some Nigerian politicians are not comfortable. He charged leaders to take his advice as someone who is concerned about the well-being of the people.
This is as the former Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Professor Patrick Lumumba, told Nigerian leaders to always strive to do the right thing, warning that if they failed to do the right thing there would always be a day of reckoning.
Both leaders gave the advice at the 10th Memorial Anniversary Lecture of Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki on Monday 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 tasked leaders to always uphold the truth, be honest, transparent and accountable.
Delivering the memorial lecture, Lumumba said it was time that Nigeria and African leaders do away with the vestiges of colonialism and did what was right for the African continent.
He said leaders had a duty to lead the people by serving them diligently and not to be served.
