Former Liberian President Tells Governors To Quit Playing Politics And Impact Lives
June 7, 2014 - By Ugochukwu Onyeocha - Daily Times
Ex Liberian President, Professor Amos Sawyer, has charged political and public office holders in Nigeria to see their positions as a call to service by using state resources for the overall benefit of the electorate.
Speaking to governors at the Nigeria Governors Forum held in Port Harcourt on Friday, Professor Sawyer stressed that “it is only when lives are impacted that a transitioned leader can enjoy the dignity of service among his people”.
Professor Sawyer, further urged politicians to play down on party differences, and foster a stronger cooperation to effectively tackle Nigeria’s challenges.
“If there is a spirit of co-operation, the environment for reaching understanding will exit. You must reach common understanding,” he said while delivering a speech on the ‘Life After Service’ for governors.
Professor Sawyer stressed that all public officer holders must begin to “think about what quality of life they want after their service and work towards it before assuming office or immediately after they assume office”.
“The quality of life every office holder will have after service is a function of the quality of service he delivered while in office. “My preparation for exiting office began at the time that I was inducted into office,” the former Liberian President said.
He said that when appointed, public service must be seen as a privilege.
“We must be appreciative of the honour given to us to serve and we must be humbled by this opportunity. We must remind ourselves every day that public service is an assignment and not an entitlement. Serving in leadership position is of time bound duration.
We must know that others are expected to follow us and we are in a chain of actors and we have the responsibility to build upon what was done by our predecessors and to leave our footprints for our successors to follow,” he said.
