The leadership of Nigeria’s house of representatives is of the opinion that going to jail is an honor for politicians in Nigeria.
This was disclosed during a solidarity visit by Principal Officers of the House to Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu, who was recently released from the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja.
Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase who represented speaker of the lower chamber of the national assembly Femi Gbajabiamila told Kalu that he should see his conviction and jail term as “one of those things”, and that such an experience is a badge of honor for politicians.
Wade said: “We are here to sympathize with you on what happened and your incarceration. As a politician, I want you to take it as one of those things.
“First, we congratulate you and urge you to put everything before God and believe it is part of destiny. My leader, the late Chief Solomon Lar, told me not to fear, as a politician, to go to prison.
“He told me that going to prison is a badge of honour. If you are a good politician, you should be willing to taste prison experience because it will come to you in very many dimensions.
Read also: Sanusi Lobbied For VP Position when Buhari was Hospitalized In London – Junaid
“That happened to us sometime in the past when we were being chased and humiliated, and he asked us to be resolute and face the issues as they were. He reminded us of how he was sentenced to over 90 to 150 years in prison. He told us that as leaders, there is always a judgement that could be passed.
“As our leader, we want you to appreciate what God has done for you; use it for the positive development of our country’s judicial system; use it in the interest of humanity.”