Dr. Sarah Jubril
The Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria on; Ethics and Moral Values, and foremost female politician, and woman advocate, Dr. Sarah Nnadzwa Jubril was recently cornered at the Courageous Citizens Awards organized by; Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy at Abuja, to bare her mind on some of the pressing issues of nation building and the Nigerian question. In this interview, she expresses the view that, politics is not a game for crooks but a game for those who want to serve God and humanity a reason why leaders swear to oaths before assumption of office. Savor her frustrations with Nigerian leaders, why she contested for the Presidency and the foundational roles of women in moulding and nurturing society et al.
The Journey so far
I may not be in active politics anymore but I am still thinking politics hoping that our present way of playing politics of half-truth and half lies will metamorphose into an ethical practice that is capable of building a reliable system for the younger ones. Politics is not a game for crooks but a game for those prepared to serve God and humanity. That is why every elected officer swears to an oath of allegiance using either the Holy Bible or Holy Quran as acceptable to his/her faith. It beats my imagination that after the oath, the gladiators neither comply with the oath of faith nor respect the Constitution. This seems to say that politicians who are our leaders no longer fear the Almighty and I must say that it is a bad signal.
I got into politics because I believe in it but unfortunately discovered that what our leaders swear to as oath of engagement is not what we get after the swearing in. I still think that to be able to function properly in politics is to be truly guided and led ethically according to the oath taken and the Constitution. The oath requires that every leader should care for the people they lead as well as impact their lives positivelyfor that is the essence of the oath of service they take. This applies to every leadership position we hold – in the family, workplace or society at large.
The Role of women
We (mothers) should be concerned about the quality of life we give our family especially our children. Mothers should teach their children to do everything with the fear of God. We should not live our life empty and focus-less. We should care for the young ones to raise their consciousness of God and respect for the common good. Teach them the realities of life here and life in the here-after to guide them on how they live their life. We want the best in politics, governance and leadership. We inculcate this in our children from our families to the community, the local authorities, state, nation and the world at large.
Mothers ask yourselves – why are we having bad leaders? Ask yourself; why are you having cowards as children who cannot voice out ills of society? Mothers should ponder over this philosophically, ethically and godly. I am who I am today, due to the way I was brought up by my father who was a reverend. I am the first child and so took up a leadership role. Please take responsibility and take care of your family like I did my younger ones as the first child. I am very strict but my strictness is not selfish but borne out of love to bake a good dough. My mother too was a no nonsense woman. We grate and fry garri as well as sell it together. If you misbehave, she will call a round table for you to explain why you goofed. If you do not wish to face the round table, you must be very conscious of what you do at all times.
Dr. Sarah Jubril during this interview
Women emancipation / Inclusiveness
Women today are more enlightened, and more educated. They are no more taking the backseat but are quite active in all sphere of life now in trying to contribute their philosophies and beat to nation building. Most importantly, women are contributing more to the quality of humanity generally and to this I plead with the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs not to toy with this all important assignment.
The space – social and even philosophical space for women is expanding tremendously. The kindness space as well as the caring spaces of women is widening meaning that women have to learn more on how to be creative especially in creating a quality population of mothers and of appropriate mothering philosophy. Most leaders often extol the roles of their mothers in their lives that helped them in becoming what they are hence the need to recognise the foundational roles mothers play in life of persons and the life of nations. Nobody would want to do anything that will make his/her mother to cry. Of course we also acknowledge fathers outstretched hands in providing and protecting the families. With dedicated mothers around, we should be having less 419 or Yahoo Yahoo boys and girls as well as bad leadership.
Politics and Women barriers
From the way I was brought up, I see human life as the most precious creature of God. I feel that they need to be directed on the right path. I believe in God. I believe in heaven and hell. I wouldn’t like the idea of the leadership be it President or whatever, not quite compliant with the oaths of office they swore to. I was not satisfied with what I was seeing as leadership in the country, and that was why I took that step to join the Presidential race. I was actually attempting a corrective mission which was resisted and never was. If Presidents and all political office holders in this country comply 60% with their oath of allegiance, this country will be far better than what it is today. I was coming with a mothering philosophy of raising a better nation. The courage to search for wisdom, I will continue to preach since God in His mercy has given me life.
Leadership in Nigeria
We are yet to attain the standard of leadership as contained in our oaths of office and allegiance or in the Constitution. With that oath and fear of God, government functionaries will be afraid to falter but it’s like they have killed their conscience.
Corruption
The type of corruption and stealing going on in this country is mind blowing. There is a whole lot to be done in the area of compliance to the oath of office and oath of allegiance among our leaders and that is why things are the way the currently are in our country particularly in the area of corruption.
Right now I am not partisan but will continue to air my views whenever I get the opportunity to do so.
The Courageous Citizens Awards
The event gladdens my heart. It means that we still have in this country conscientious people who are doing things right to the extent of remembering to honour the ordinary citizens who try to do things right as a way of encouraging them. It means there is still hope for national redemption. I doff my heart for the organidsers.
Insecurity
For those killing, maiming and decimating our population – why are you killing your brothers and sisters, the very essence of our being? Insecurity is one of the threatening and frightening syndrome currently ravaging the nation. Everyone now lives in fear of being kidnapped, armed robbers, herdsmen, terrorists and all sort. Again, our upbringing and leadership comes to play. If children are well groomed with the fear of God in their hearts, they will not suddenly become blood suckers or thirsty for blood. This is not the Nigeria I grew up in or the Nigeria of our dream. This is why anyone who have the opportunity to leave the country jumps to it. But we cannot all leave and our leaders must urgently rise up to this problem.
