No man can give power, Dogara tells politicians

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has told his fellow politicians that “no one, no matter how powerful he or she is, can give you power”.

According to Turaki Hassan, Dogara’s media aide, the speaker made the remark during a thanksgiving service organised by Jagaba Adams, a Kaduna lawamaker, on Saturday.

“Politicians should put their trust in God because power comes from God, victory comes from God, and no one, no matter how powerful he/she is can give you power,” Turaki quoted him as saying.

Dogara said for the country to make progress, both the leaders and the led, have to change their orientation, emphasising that leaders were recruited from the society.

He charged Nigerians to, as a matter of necessity, show higher standards of conduct even as they expect same from their leaders.

“There are always expectations from citizens for leaders to show a higher standard of behavior,” he said.

“Obviously, it is good that those who call themselves leaders must always aspire to maintain higher standards, but what is wrong with the narrative especially in Nigeria is that in most cases, citizens expect that only leaders must live above board.

“This nation can only make progress if all the citizens and leaders resolve that in their daily undertakings they will maintain the best of standards. This is because the leadership recruitment process is such that leaders always emerge from the people.”

He also called on Nigerians to return their elected representatives to office during elections because lawmakers do well with experience.