A top member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) in the 2011 presidential election, Professor Pat Utomi, has expressed his desire to vie for elective office, but said he was awaiting the call of his people and the party he now belongs.
Utomi, who spoke on Tuesday in Lagos, said if he was called to serve, he could serve in any capacity as long as he was called by the people and his party.
“The bane of true service in Nigeria is the focus on title. Anyone willing to serve his people must be ready to do so at any level,” Utomi said, adding that those who truly make the difference for their people do not care much about title.
Utomi, who said he had been occupied with his programmes on nation building, further maintained that “leadership is not a do or die affair; every true leader must also be willing to be a follower.”
He however advised those vying for various positions in the APC to jettison selfishness for the common good of the society if they really wanted the party to win major elective seats in the country including the presidency.
According to him, “there will only be one candidate. The SDMP failed in its mission to take over power in Nigeria because of selfishness. The only way the opposition can achieve its goals is to remain united and work for whoever emerges as its candidate as long as the person emerges through a free and fair process.”
