5th November, 2011
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged leaders at all levels to embrace the fear of God in the discharge of public responsibilities and in task of making the lives of the ordinary people worth living.
In his Sallah message released by his Media Office in Abuja, the former Vice President said without practising the ethics of their religions, leaders would not have the conscience to appreciate the untold hardship facing millions of ordinary citizens.
According to him, leaders must carry religion beyond symbolism and external ostentation, adding that without the fear of God, justice and equity to the people would mean nothing in the hearts of leaders.
The former PDP presidential aspirant noted that the worsening poverty in the country and the widening distance between leaders and the people is disturbing.
He advised elected leaders to bring back the people from the brink of despair, caused by unfulfilled promises and dashed expectations of the country’s democratic order.
“The obscene display of wealth by elected leaders while millions of voters continue to wallow in abject poverty carries the risks of the people losing faith in governance. In fact, the happiness, welfare and security of the people are the bedrock of any legitimately elected government,†he said.
Atiku, however, urged Nigerians not to let up in their prayers to God for the continued growth, development, unity and stability of the country.