"I Am Calling For A Change Of Attitude, Re-Orientation." - Maitama Sule

Elder statesman and former minister of mines and steel Maitama Sule has called for a revolution in Nigeria saying that there must be a revolution in order for Nigeria to achieve her desired development.

The former minister said Nigeria is in dire need for sincere leaders, and this would not happen unless citizens summon the boldness to embark on a revolution.

Sule made the statement while hosting the senator representing Kaduna central senatorial district Shehu Sani. according to reports by Premium Times.

“What we need today in Nigeria is leadership, not only Nigeria but also the rest of Africa needs good leadership. We want leadership, not ruler-ship,” Sule said.

The Elder Statesman noted that Nigeria needs leaders who have the fear of God in them, leaders who have the will to turn the table around and not rulers. 

“I know the word revolution scares you. We must have a revolution. I am not calling for bloody or violent revolution, No. I am not calling for Tse-Tung revolution in China where over 70 million people were killed. I am not calling for the kind of revolution led by Mahatma Ghandi with his philosophy non-violent resistance. I am calling for bloodless, non-violent revolution. 

“I am calling for a change of attitude, re-orientation. Who will have to bring about this? You are the answer. You are the panacea to our ills. You are the solution to our problems. You are the vehicles of change. You are the vanguard of this revolution. The future is yours. You shall mark it or mar it. You can make it or mar it. 

“If you succumb to the machinations of greedy and irresponsible political leaders, you will inherit a bad future and you will be bad leaders in the future. Make no mistake about this – you are the future leaders, whether anybody likes it or not. You are the change, you are the future; you are the answer.”

Sule further warned that Nigeria’s new leaders cannot provide the required leadership needed and most seek intervention of elders in the populace to achieve this aim. 

“But let this thing get into your head – you need the elders. As I said earlier, you alone cannot make it, listen to the elders. Seek their advice. In all countries of the world, there is always what they call an invisible government. 

“There are some elderly experience people who are not interested in getting any position or money but they are interested in their own country. They want to see their children and their grandchildren become good leaders, respected leaders. These are the people that sit together and discuss the country and advise the government. In every country in the world they have this. We must have this too.” 

He said: “New breed without the old breed will breed greed. Throughout history, you find out that the best or the most successful organisation has this kind of combination – the old and the young. The old cannot do it alone nor can the young. You need a combination of the two to complement each other. 

“In the same vein, we have to go into history. The purpose of history is to know the past in order to adjust the present and plan for the future. If you ignore the old breed you are wiping out a whole generation and therefore creating a vacuum. Nature does not want a vacuum. Life is a continuous thing. There must be continuity.”

Sule said some leaders use public funds to send their mistresses to London to have a hairdo. 

He said most of the money used by these corrupt leaders were proceeds of oil exploration in Nigeria.

-NAIJ