Humanist

“A politician is one who knows that Government and Parliament exercise powers entrusted to them by the people.

And that the same power must be exercised solely in the interest of the people.

A good politician is one who respects the will of the people.

A good politician is one who knows that in an election, the electorate have the power either to confirm the current representative or transfer their trust to another representative.

A good politician is one who works relentlessly for peace, prosperity and good will.

And as the distinguished American statesman, Abraham Lincoln, once said: “works on the principle of malice towards none, and charity to all.”

Mr. Speaker, a good politician, Mr. Speaker sir, a good politician is one who knows that the interest of his country is paramount and all others are secondary.

Mr. Speaker, a good politician is one who knows that party differences are secondary to national duty and security.

Mr. Speaker sir, in the prayer recited at the commencement of every sitting of this house, all honourable members are referred to as servants.

Who have been called upon to perform important trusts in this land.

What has been entrusted to honorable members is also contained in the same prayer.”

Extracted from a speech given by the President of Uganda, Apollo Milton Obote, in 1984, while addressing Parliament. Televised live on national television, the Uganda Broadcasting Service (UBC).

Access to timeless wisdom, such as this in President Obote’s speech, is what having it all means to me, access to timeless wisdom.

Imagine, 40 decades later, the wisdom shared by President Obote then is even the more relevant for Uganda and Africa today, as we grapple with our political leadership crises continent wide.

It is attainable, to access such timeless wisdom to all, in the hope that it inspires us all, in whatever leadership roles we hold, to act and do as we are entrusted.

Most importantly, acting within the timeless wisdom of President Abraham Lincoln’s prescribed “principle of malice towards none, and charity to all.”

How things would be so different in this our world and for the greater good.