Leadership, sacred trust not for personal enrichment – Emir of Potiskum

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The Emir of Potiskum, His Royal Highness Alhaji Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya, has said that his life has been defined by service to humanity, stressing that leadership is a sacred trust that should never be used for personal enrichment.

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The first-class traditional ruler, who spoke on his journey from the classroom to the Nigerian Prison Service before ascending the Potiskum throne in 1994, told Arewa PUNCH in an exclusive interview that every phase of his life prepared him for the responsibility of leading his people.

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According to the monarch, his experiences as a teacher, prison officer and traditional ruler were all centred on serving others.

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“Service to humanity has always been my guiding principle. Every stage of my life has been guided by the belief that whatever position Allah places you in should be used to serve humanity sincerely,” he said.

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The Emir explained that his years in the teaching profession taught him patience, fairness and the importance of developing young people, while his career in the Nigerian Prison Service exposed him to discipline, administration and leadership.

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“The teaching profession taught me how to develop people, while the Nigerian Prison Service taught me discipline, administration and leadership. When I eventually became the Emir of Potiskum, I realised that Allah had been preparing me throughout those years to serve my people more effectively,” he stated.

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The monarch recalled that one of the defining moments of his life came after traditional institutions in Yobe State were dissolved barely two years after he became Emir.

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He said he was directed to return to the Nigerian Prison Service because he was still technically a federal officer but he chose to remain with his people instead.

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“Although returning to the Prison Service would have secured my career, I believed my greater responsibility was to the people of Potiskum. Looking back today, I have no regrets. Every stage of my life has been guided by the belief that whatever position Allah places you in should be used to serve humanity sincerely,” he said.

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The Emir maintained that leadership should never be measured by wealth or political influence but by the impact made on society.

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“I do not measure success by monetary wealth, but by the peace, unity and progress within the community. Leadership must always be about service, not personal gain. A leader should wake up every day thinking about how to improve the lives of his people,” he added.

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Alhaji Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya urged public office holders to place the welfare of citizens above personal interests, saying only selfless leadership could guarantee sustainable development.

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“When leaders put the welfare of the citizenry above personal interests, the nation will make meaningful progress,” the Emir concluded.

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