Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on Nigerians to have a change in attitude and orientation for the country to make progress even as the nation is passing through challenging times.

He added that if Nigeria is to witness significant improvement in quality of leadership and governance, the citizens must change their ways of life as leaders are recruited from among them.

A statement issued by Dogara’s spokesman, Turaki Hassan, said that the Speaker stated this on Saturday during a thanksgiving service organised by Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba at ECWA Church Chigwa, Kaduna State.

He said that Dogara also maintained that while Nigerians expect leaders to live higher standards of life as role models, the followers must also know that leaders are recruited from among them.

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

Said Dogara: “There is always expectations from citizens for leaders to show a higher standard of behaviour. 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.

“Because if you expect merely leaders to do the right thing, the leadership recruitment process is such that leaders always emerge from the people.”

Dogara admonished politicians to put their trust in God because “power comes from God, victory comes from God, no one, no matter how powerful he/she is can give you power.”

The Speaker who described Hon. Jagaba as a leader per excellence in the House, also commended him for his credible representation and always being in the centre of activities in the green chamber

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

In his testimony, Hon. Jagaba urged Nigerians to eschew religious and ethnic sentiments which have divided the country for decades.

He said the electorate should rather lay emphasis on individual character and not political party affiliation and revealed that he has forgiven all those who plotted evil against him in the 2015 general elections.

In his sermon, ECWA President Reverend, Dr. J. Gado, said by design God created and saved humanity to live a life of gratitude, service, praise and worship in accordance with the book of Revelations 4:11.

The Speaker was accompanied by Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Senator Binta Garba, Deputy Minority Leader Buba Jibril, Minority Whip Yakubu Barde and scores of members of the House of Representatives.

•Photo shows Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara (2nd Right), the celebrant, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba (1^st Right), Members House of Representatives, Hon. Buba Jibril and Hon. Yakubu Barde (Left) during the thanks giving service in Honour of Adams Jagaba Adams at ECWA Church Chigwa in Kagarko L. G. A. of Kaduna State, on Saturday.

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