Lumumba said that the ghost of ethnicity, ignorance, poverty and narrow mindedness have to be ostracised, for Africa to follow the path of progress and prosperity.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Kenyan lawyer, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, has said that Africa must free herself from politics of money and money bags by embracing politics of ideas if it wants to realise its full potential.
The ex-director of Kenyan Anti-corruption Commission stated this on Monday at the 10th memorial lecture of Dr Abubakar Saraki, the father of former Senate President Bukola Saraki in Abuja.
Lumumba said, “I am suggesting to you that Africa is not going to grow as long as you , who are in positions of leadership, have perfected the art of appealing to the stomachs rather than the minds of the men and women that you lead.
“I am suggesting to you that Africa is not going to realise her potential as long as we continue to conduct the politics of money and money bags, not the politics of ideas.
“I am suggesting to you that Africa is never going to realise her potential as long as we are dividing our people along ethnic lines.”
Lumumba said that the ghost of ethnicity, ignorance, poverty and narrow mindedness have to be ostracised, for Africa to follow the path of progress and prosperity.
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He said the fact still remained that everything fell on leadership, saying that for Africa to survive and thrive tribe, cultural differences must die and leaders should ensure to be in to serve and not to be served.
Lumumba urged African leaders imbibe the culture of educating their people and be open and transparent so people could hold them to account.
He said the late Saraki was known for his good deeds that was why he was being remembered.
Lumumba called on all who worked and served under the tutelage of Saraki to take a solemn vow to replicate what he did and more.