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We are sick and tired of hearing our leaders declaring their innocence from the pulpit that they are not part of the problem bedevilling our Country. Well if they exonerate themselves believing that they are innocent then who is the culprit behind all the mess? Anyhow the one who is truthful would not fear any criticism provided is done constructively. If they are sincere let them come out openly and declare their assets and let every one see how much is their lawful earnings and how much they have taken out from the treasury or the public fund. Haba every day they try to pretend as if they are not part of the social ills and problems that face our Society. Those in power normally accuse the immediate and past leaders as being the cause not wanting to be seen as part of the real problem. We know the leaders who set examples in our Country late General Murtala Muhammed was one of the best examples who immediately after becoming leader declared his assets and asked everyone in his Cabinet to declare their assets. How many of our leaders have overnight turned multi millionaires and some even billon ears from where did they get all these amount was it part of their lawful earnings ? Every one knows how much they earn so from where have they got the surplus many times more than their annual salary which enabled them to buy so many houses some even abroad. So then it is not wrong to say people are only competing to become leaders only to make more money. Most of the so called leaders are not serious about governing not to talk of transparency and good governance all they are interested is to make money with the intention to enjoy they and their family members. How many of our leaders from the President to a Local Government Councillor sincerely represent their constituency having interest in what the people want not what they (so-called leaders) want. All we can see now is a kind of unfortunate competition of making quick money by all means whereby every one competing with his rival to make more and more so that he or she can enjoy with his or her immediate acquaintances .The politics we are seeing today is the politics of increasing money and amassing wealth by hook and crook. How can such people who are not consistent represent the real interest of the people as they are not principled how are we sure they can be serious in the business of governance and yet people entrust them although they are not trust worthy. Instead of governing sincerely their desires are governing them they no longer care for the people. One of the leaders a Governor was reported to have converted 150 billion Naira out of the 250 billion given as allocation to his State for his own personal use to fulfil his selfish ends .If one does not fear Allah how can we entrust him with the business of governing the affairs of the people and yet unfortunately such leaders who are like chameleons changing colours deceive the masses with oratory and religious pretences which make them look sincere but unfortunately are far away from the reality. No wonder this is why we see every day people are competing to gain a position so as not to be left out in these rivalry in the worldly increase which distracts them until they leave this World. We should make it a duty from now on wards anybody who is going hold any position should be made to declare his assets before and after his or her term of office so as to ensure good governance and transparency. We should select or elect only God fearing leaders whom we are certain would not squander our wealth which they know is a trust entrusted to them. Unfortunately we have not learnt any lesson the few select who are holding us to ransom having entrusted the leadership mantle on their shoulders which they fail to discharge responsibly due to material gains and evil desires has continued unabated. By forcing all the elected and even the selected leaders to declare their assets would help alleviate the suffering of the people and reduce corruption which has become the order of the day. To hold a public position now a days and not having enough is a million dollar joke as our society has become so corrupt. Which of the Governor, Minister, Commissioner Local Government Chairman or even a Councillor are not a million ears at our present time? We have to take stock of ourselves .How can we progress wishing good for our Nation while we have the tendency of becoming corrupt and even if you are not corrupt when you join them they corrupt you. Alas this is our situation suffering from a self-inflicted disease called intellectual dishonesty. We all know what is right but we don’t want do that right simply because we just want maintain the status quo of opportunity once lost can never be regained so they say. Our leaders are among the greediest people you can find on the surface of the land they amass so much yet due to cancerous materialism they are never satiated nor contented with what they have due to the craving of more material wealth, name fame and increment in the social status. So they get position in Government and other public sector only to increase in this unfortunate evil vicious circle of materialism. They are not there to help the people only few out of those elected are fulfilling the promise they have made with a pledge swearing an oath of taking the responsibility of seriously representing their constituency. Instead of doing what they are supposed to do we all know what they are doing which we don’t need to repeat but this is the reality of our unfortunate situation which we find ourselves and always complaining. How can God rectify us while we have not made any effort to rectify ourselves? Allah says “Lo Allah will not change condition of people until they change what is in their hearts”. So if we really and sincerely want change we must change from the core of our hearts for the better especially the leaders must live by example. We have enough talk we can talk till the cows come home nothing will change until we sincerely change ourselves. |