Former Minister of Interior, Dr Shettima Mustapha, yesterday advised politicians to look beyond the four years term and focus on providing credible leadership for the people.
Mustapha, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, decried the attitude of politicians who focus more on their term of office.
“Some politicians focus more on the four years due to shortsightedness. It is our fault. The elite have not given a good orientation to the populace on this issue. It is sad.
“It is better for them to focus on how to provide credible leadership for the people than what they get in the next elections in 2015.
“I believe that the dream of our founding fathers was for a better Nigeria and not for what we are seeing today,” he said.
Mustapha also advised delegates to the proposed National Conference not to make the conference a jamboree, but ensure unity and peaceful coexistence.
“We must ensure that all Nigerians learn to accord their fellow countrymen and women respect irrespective of where one comes from.
“We must agree that this is our country and so, we must take it somewhere together.
“The conference should not be a jamboree where some people will have the opportunity to abuse each other, where people will speak big grammar to tell the world that they are educated.
“It should be viewed as an opportunity for us to speak as one Nigeria, having a common background and common destiny.”
The former minister appealed to the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the conferences as soon as the conference was over. (NAN)