Governors of Imo and Cross River States, Hope Uzodimma, and Bassey Otu, other dignitaries, including former first lady, Patience Jonathan, former Senate president, Pius Anyiam, and representatives of Ebonyi and Anambra states’ governors where physically present in Abuja, yesterday to grace this year’s Michael Okpara Leadership Lecture and Award ceremony. ..Read Full Article
Other dignitaries in attendance include Osita Izunazor and Ned Nwoko, Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji; National Deputy Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Emma Eneukwu; National Vice Chairman, South East, Ijiomah Arodiogbu; oil magnet, Author Eze; Austin Akobundu, Clement Ebri, Uche Ekwulife, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson and Olisa Metuh.
Raising funds for the proposed Michael Okpala Leadership Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, Eze and Nwoko donated N100 million each, Cross River governor gave N50 million, Bauchi State government donated N10 million, Tony Chukwu gave N30 million, Alex Mbata, N20 million, Mayland Oil and Gas, N10 million, while South East coordinator of Tinubu Support group donated N3 million, representatives of Anambra and Abia states promised to liaise with their governors.
Those presented with plaque of honours include Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Bauchi State governors, Patience Jonathan and Adegboyaga Isiaka.
Uzodimma, who promised to ensure the leadership centre is commissioned within one year, said some of the lessons from Okpara’s leadership philosophy include, honest/selfless service, integrity, inclusivity, follower-ship, meticulous planning, believe in continuity, political tolerance, and acting with precision.
Linking it to his Imo experience, Uzodimma said: “There is no doubt that this inspiring story of the legendary Michael Okpara, has rubbed off on me in tour of duty as the governor of Imo State though I don’t have the luxury of understudying directly with my predecessors, I leveraged the experience of these master and others like him.”
While extolling Okpara’s virtues during the event, Otu: said: “Since I came to office, I have served as a protege of Okparanomics by pragmatically pursuing the tripartite of agricultural, educational and infrastructural revolution in my state. I find agriculture to represent the essence of creation and purpose of existence. I see education as the channel of social consciousness and growth.
“I adopt infrastructure as the hallmark of leadership talent and the roads, schools, hospitals, estates, ports, houses and industries as channels of actualisation of the greatest leadership vision.
“Today, I come with a scorecard reminiscent of what the venerable medic, Dr. Okpara, demonstrated to the good people of the then Eastern region where my state was a part of. l believe any people-oriented leadership should be a good student who seeks masterpieces that worked in the past and dust them for domestication in the present and my leadership philosophy of project continuity and governance continuum makes this easy for me.
“Here are five strategies I have learnt from our honouree in agriculture and infrastructure: establishing the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation to promote investment in agriculture; setting up the Farm Settlement Scheme to move farmers to new areas with amenities and tools; organising the Back to Land programme to upgrade food security through each-one-owns-a-farm; building rural infrastructure for agricultural mass production and marketing locally and abroad; creating estates, providing incentives and services for cash crops cultivation and promotion.
“Also, I did a survey of five agricultural programmes for the Great Depression Recovery in the United State and these have largely fired my passion for restoring our lost glory in my state.
“They are: Federal Surplus Relief Corporation to stabilise prices of farm products and avoid waste; the Food Security Administration for financing, training and modernising agriculture for farmers; the Agricultural Adjustment Administration to control agricultural production; the Soil Conservation Services for improving productivity; and the Rural Electrification Administration for amenities to increase farmers’ efficiency,” he said.
On her part, Patience Jonathan urged the South East people to return to the farm, pleading with those with financial war chest to support individuals returning to farming.
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