Minister of Information, Labaran Maku has said political activities leading to the 2015 elections should be based on issues, principles and sound ideologies, rather than on ethnic or religious sentiments.
Maku made the statement in Abuja on Thursday while giving a speech at the public presentation of the biography of Alhaji Balarabe Musa, written by Kevin Christiantus.
Maku eulogized Musa, encouraging young politicians to look up to his examples as a template, especially in activities leading to the 2015 general election.
He revealed that even the president holds Musa in high esteem and believes he should be a guide to anyone in the helms of Nigeria’s affairs.
“Our values must define our politics, whether you are in the so-called progressives or in the ruling party”, Maku said.
“Politicians must learn to respect the real ideals of politics, which are to serve and bring about development. The notion that if you are in the opposition, you automatically become a progressive is wrong. There are many who are in the opposition because they are merely looking for a platform to contest elections”.
Former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo and pro-democracy activist, Ayo Opadokun, also extolled the achievements of Musa, describing him as a never-tribe-centric, selfless and an astute leader and politician, who has devoted his entire life to the service of people.
Nwobodo, one of Musa’s contemporaries, charged the current crop of politicians to imitate the discipline and selflessness displayed by the second-republic generation of politicians.
He said that the present challenges confronting the nation could be better addressed if politicians put away their differences, personal agenda and worked for the collective interest of Nigerians.
