Do
you know that President Buhari's daughter got married last Friday in Daura, but
the President stayed back in Abuja to attend to issues of national importance?
He later joined them in the night to meet with guests and flew back to Abuja
early Saturday morning to continue his work.
Do
you also remember two years ago when former President Jonathan's adopted
daughter got married? A huge jamboree of an extravagant wedding was staged
while billions of Naira were expended. Customized gold plated IPhones were
given as gifts to everyone privileged to be in the reception hall. The best of
foreign wines were served. Abundance of food was in offer and the best of
entertainers were hired to keep guests entertained while they dined and wined.
In return, the bride was "dashed" over 80 exotic brand new cars,
including houses by those her father bragged to have made wealthy.
The
worst of it all was that State functions nationwide were suspended; all
government activities were put on hold because Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's
daughter was wedding; all roads led to Bayelsa. That weekend was madness
because the entire administration of governance in Nigeria was suspended
because the President's daughter was getting married. People were falling over
themselves to show favour to the President's daughter in an anticipation that
their goodwill would be reciprocated by GEJ.
Now
the case is different. The contrast is that, here we have another sitting
President whose daughter got married and you did not even know about it because
it wasn't made a State function. It was a very modest wedding and simply family
affair. This is what leadership is: a leader not using his political position
to attract worldly gains to himself. I can also tell you that a lot of dignitaries trooped into Daura, as some people
wanted to make this wedding a State affair, a lavish, expensive and glamorous
wedding; but President Buhari rejected such proposal and only insisted it must
be modest and a family affair devoid of waste and ostentation.
This
post is not meant to praise anyone but to sample an attitude every political
office holder must emulate. A life of modesty, simplicity and not abusing one’s
political office for self-aggrandizement. This time around, all roads did not
lead to Daura.
By Lawrence Ibe
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