The Ondo State Director of Justice Development and Peace commission (JDPC), Rev Fr Patrick Adebayo, has called on politicians at all levels to use their political office to serve humanity and not their purse.

Father Patrick made this call in his office at Akure in an interview with CEOAfrica, hammering on the need for politicians to always remember the promises made to electorates during campaign.

Lamenting on the present economic challenges that the country is faced with, Father Patrick said “when I look at Nigeria and ponder on some of the challenges like workers not been paid salaries for months, I feel sad that we have found ourselves in these messes.”

The priest cited irresponsible leadership as well as corruption of past administrations as the source of problems the country is faced with today, exonerating the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from all these challenges.

He said “most people have heaped the blame on the fall in the price of oil but the big question is that when there was a boom in the oil sector how was the proceeds spent? What we are experiencing now is the result and outcome of irresponsible governance in the past.”

“Political leaders are supposed to be well informed about certain issues before embarking on a mission to serve the people. Governance is a serious business, but when our political leaders get into office they only serve their pockets and not the people. That is the reason why we have the myriads of problem the country is faced with.

Father Patrick stressed on the need for justice, citing it as the only solution that can bring about peace in any society.

“The church strongly believes that in every human society, for us to enjoy peace, there must be justice. If any society wants to achieve peace then that society must first work for justice. If justice is given to each person and everyone gets his or her due, there will be peace everywhere.

The director stressed on the need for enlightenment of the citizen to know their fundamental human right through the constitution.

He said “we have been involved in human right education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice in Ondo State; we have also translated the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria in to Yoruba Language, so that indigenes would be conversant with what their rights and responsibilities.”