By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Journalists in Nigeria have been charged to discontinue helping politicians to throw up their ego at the expense of good leadership in the country.
Mallam Saliu Mustapha, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State who is among those gunning for the coveted national chairmanship of the party in its forthcoming convention said this in Ilorin at the weekend.
Mustapha who was one of the state’s leading 2019 governorship aspirants in a chat with journalists said the culture of emphasizing the title; ‘ex-this, ex-that’ was part of the egos ascribed to politicians which had always fetched them positions they do not ordinarily merit.
He said politics should not be a contest of titles but rather should be that of cultivating a culture of contests to serve and touch the lives of the people. He said that this should be made the guiding principle of the game.
His words: “The media should help de-emphasize and play down celebration of titles like; ‘former Governor, former minister’ etc. which often time had been one of the cosmetics used to sacrifice merit for incompetence in our public life.
“Politicians should apply decorum in the game of politics. In Britain, US and other developed democracies, the questions they ask is that of capability and efficiencies.”
When asked to assess himself as a not too known politician in a game of election of leadership in the party, considering the intimidating array of big names also eyeing the same position in APC, Mallam Mustapha said he had conveniently garnered more than 20 years’ experience in politics which cuts across all standards.
According to him, he was a national active member of the old All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) where he was the National Deputy Chairman and that he was part of the mega arrangement of parties that formed the present All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I have paid my price; I have been in it at the very centre of actions. I have perhaps been at the background doing the needful. I have learnt enough even though my philosophy has always been that of not a do-or-die style.
“I am not intimidated in anyway in my quest to become the next national chairman of APC. The journey must begin somewhere and I am not intimidated.”
He pleaded with Nigerians to bear with the present Federal Government over current national challenges which he admitted is taking its toll on the generality of the people. He pointed out that with the unrelenting efforts of the government, the harsh issues would soon be over.