Leadership is a sacred responsibility. It becomes an enormous burden when the society is in desperate need of visionaries. Ours in Nigeria is a case of emergency. We are in serious need of sincere leaders who puts national issues ahead of their personal gains and comfort. World history records leaders who neglected comfort and luxury in sacrifice for the welfare of the people. Their deeds are neither fairytale nor myths related to younger generation under the moon. The likes of Late Obafemi Awolowo, Nelson Mandela, and other icons, through their deeds speak volume of the heavy responsibilities that rested on the shoulders of a leader.
It is unfortunate that in spite our deficient of sincere leadership needed to implement impactful policies, members of the House of Representatives last Tuesday, passed a motion to suspend proceedings. The suspension was due to the coronavirus scare.
Our lawmakers decided to embark on a two weeks break amid obvious scare of coronavirus. Their excuse; to enable the National Assembly Management install facilities to screen and detect the virus. It is however surprising that members is only concerned about themselves while staff of the National Assembly are expected to report to the same premises for duty.
While they hide under the coronavirus scare to abscond from their sworn duty, the House of Representatives in the United States approved $8.3billion emergency fund to combat the novel virus. In a show of what leadership should be, the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, categorically told reporters that the Capitol Hill will remain opened to the public. In her word, “At this time, yes. Without question.”
It is not a hidden fact that the Capitol Hill is opened to tourists from across the country, and as such if there is any public building across the globe that should nurse the notion of closure, it is the Capitol Hill.
IMPACT NEWS observed with serious concern that of recent, access to the National Assembly Complex has become near impossible. Our lawmakers have summarily locked themselves away from the same people they claimed to serve. What an irony of leadership.
The House of Representatives in recent times have been in public opinion as anti-populace with obnoxious motions and moves that are toxic to the socioeconomic development of the country. We are aware that while the Federal Government campaigns for patronage of made in Nigeria goods, they plan to import 400 units of the 2020 Toyota Camry for themselves at the expense of our locally produced vehicles. The National Assembly Complex was contracted for renovation at an outrageous cost of 36 billion naira. These and many other moves of our lawmakers make us wonder who they serve or better put, who is at their service?
We advise that members of the House of Representatives should rescind their decision to embark on 2 weeks leave and face the serious business of nation building at a time the country fears running into another recession with the sudden crash of crude oil in the international market.
