By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily – The founder of the United Nigerian Airlines and a leading candidate for the November 6, Anambra State Governorship election on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, has identified pervasive injustice as responsible for the persistent instability and insecurity rocking the nation.
Okonkwo said this when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja as a prelude to its annual Dr. Sam Epelle Memorial Gold paper lecture.
Okonkwo, who is scheduled as one of the key speakers, said being chosen to the deliver the key lecture at the occasion is an honour that fate placed on him to do justice to.
According to him, Nigeria’s development trajectory is nothing to write home about, leaving much of the citizens with nothing but nostalgia and hopelessness.
He noted that even within the family unit, when injustice is perceived, revolt is bound to be the natural outcome.
Okonkwo said, “In my research for this lecture which I had 90 percent prepared before the COVID-19 struck, I couldn’t agree with you less, how great this country was. Also,as a key lecturer at the centenary celebration of the former premier of the Eastern region, Michael Okpara, I realised that It is all about nostalgia.
“How leadership could make a difference. Because I am from Anambra State, where the leadership is making a project programme 2070, when I look at the content of the programme this is what M. I Okpara has done sixty years ago. Then one wonders why did we not consolidate from there.
“Yes, kids don’t believe anymore, that once upon a time, university students had better deals, they won’t believe it. How can you explain it. There is nothing to show that it has been, that it is and that it will be. That is the level of hopelessness now.
“However, I believe that our tomorrow, and surely, will be better than yesterday. That is why I am involved in the leadership quest of Anambra State. I believe it is not for us to sit back in the comfort of our rooms, offices and criticize what happens, we must step into the ring. And I pray God to give us the grace to be less greedy because one of the problems that led us to problems of leadership is individual personal greed.”
He commended the management for taking the institute to a new and enviable height under the current leadership of Dr. Sirajo , noting that sixty years since its establishment, the founder’s name, Dr, Ebele, has continued to live on despite his death.
Okonkwo further said the institute will make his legacy live for forever, as a good legacy is the best that could be gotten out of leadership.
On his part, the President of the Institute, Mallam Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, said it was a great joy that a fellow of the Institute was a highly renowned Nigerian.
According to Sirajo, the institute annually picks a current and germaine issue for a reputable patriotic Nigerian to speak on in honour of the Institute’s founder, Dr. Sam Epelle.
“We decided to make you a part of it based on our review of your pedigree and achievements. Intellectually, we wanted a person that could take a pan African and global look at the issue of Nigeria’s potential and how to make it a reality,” Sirajo stated.
He said the Institute was very concerned about the deteriorating relationships in the country, adding that Nigeria has seen better days and nobody can deny the fact that the country is not what it used to be, hence the lecture tagged ‘Reinventing Nigeria’s unity for global relevance in the 21st century.’
“The Institute is worried about the deteriorating relationships in Nigeria. The components of this country related better in the past. Now there is a cloud of mistrust and distrust.
“Instead of our God given diversity to be used for the benefit of all, it has been turned on its head. So coming together to make the best of our diversity is imperative, given the negative outlook that is now pervasive.
“The present generation don’t have this luxury as we now judge people mostly on the basis of their ethnic or religious origin. In those days the right place meant the point you were making. This is not the kind of country we want to build or bequeath to posterity. No conscious effort is being made to make tomorrow better than today,” he added.