782
A former President of Liberia, Professor Amos Sawyer today in Port Harcourt urged Nigeria ex Governors not to put in place retirement packages that are self serving, and anti – people.
The former President said former elected officers should not be carried away by perks of office and must ensure an exit package is not seen as outrageous.
He expressed regret that most elected officials get carried away by the allure of office that they do not plan for life after service.
Sawyer maintained that elected public affairs must see the assignment as a privilege,and an opportunity to serve.
He was Chairman at the Nigeria Governors Forum retreat holding today in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The theme of the retreat is ‘Life After Office: Perspectives and Challenges’
Sawyer told the gathereing that he is able to move around freely without bullet proof cars, security personnel because he planed his modest exit while he was in office..
According to him ” see it as privilege, be humbled by the opportunity to serve, see it as an assignment not entitlement, and always know that it is .time barred.”
Sawyer said further ” Be mindful that others who were there before us, know that ..we are in a chain of actors, build upon good things, leave good footprints, resist the temptation to condemn those before us “
The speaker stated that severance package of ex Governors should be institutionalized by the forum , but not done arbitrarily by individual governors.
Sawyer said ” we should not present ourselves as the first ever to do the right thing
we must give credit to those before us , it enhances development and eliminates adversarial relationships”…
“select a legacy from your development agenda complete it, the people will recall the positive difference you made in the areas of ..education, , health, infrastructure” he said
In his speech, Professor Adele Jinadu said ex Governors and other elected officials face cultural, economic political and economic challenges because of the character ” of our political economy. We use political power to acquire economic power. There is also the problem of coat throat and competitive politics “
Jinadu maintained that “They should plan to leave office they should see it as job and not vocation or profession. we must show appreciation to those who elected us. There must be transition in and out of office.Must not get carried away by allure, comfort and just live in grand style