Moses Paul, chairmanship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for AMAC in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the reality of death with humility and allow it to reshape their leadership approach.
His remarks come in the wake of the passing of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who died at the age of 82.
Speaking in a reflective address, Paul said, “Every time a leader dies, we are reminded of a truth we often ignore. Our time too will come. No wealth, title, security detail, or popularity can delay the final call.”
He cited the global examples of Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, noting that even the most powerful figures are eventually humbled by death. “There is a disturbing arrogance of power in this country,” Paul stated, criticizing political excesses, corruption, and disregard for human dignity.
Paying tribute to Nigerian icons like Dora Akunyili, Chinua Achebe, and Gani Fawehinmi, Paul praised them for living purposefully and “dying empty,” having given their best to the nation. He questioned current leadership values: “Are we using power to uplift or to exploit? Are we building legacies or just reputations?”
He also lamented the state of Nigeria’s healthcare and infrastructure, saying, “Most Nigerians face death the same way they face life—without electricity, without medicine, without care.”
Referencing respected African leaders like Nelson Mandela and Julius Nyerere, who relinquished power with dignity, Paul urged Nigerian leaders to learn the value of humility. “Nobody takes a convoy to the grave. Only memory follows us,” he said. “Let us live and lead so that when we are gone, people don’t just say we died, but that we lived for something.”
President Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023.