SBCHRO’s said it is
regrettable the rise and institutionalization of transactional governance and
bad leadership which has denied the poor masses the opportunity to rejoice and
prosper.
Presenting their stand
during a media interaction by the 18 groups at Sharon House Onitsha in a
statement researched and compiled by Emeka Umeagbalasi for Intersociety and
SBCHROs, SBCHRO’s said an accomplished leader in public office should pave the
way for sustainable and equitable growth, development and prosperity of his or
her people and their society.
They said an accomplished
leader must during his stay in office use the public funds for public good and
ensure the putting of smiles on the faces of
majority, if not most of his or her own people.
Signatories to the
statement were Int’l Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative (Jerry
Chidozie Chukwuokoro, PhD) ; Igbo Ekunie Initiative (rep Charles Ogbu) ; Civil
Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch (Vincent Ezekwueme) ; Foundation
for Environmental Rights Advocacy & Dev (Nelson Nnana Nwafor) ;Society for
Economic Rights & Social Justice (Orji Andy Ndukwe).
Others were Initiative
for Ideal Dev & Emancipatory Leadership in Nigeria (Nwokocha Anozie
Innocent) ; Igbo National Council (Chilos A.C. Godsent) ; Forum for Promotion
of National Ethos & Values (rep Ugochukwu Onwukwe) ; Easy Life Initiative
for Rural Youths (Emeku Uche); Voice of the Voiceless Int’l (Barr Violet
Umenwofor-Ezekwike)
The group said it is
particularly deeply saddened over the near total, if not total collapse of good
governance and visionary leadership in the Southeast Zone, owing not to relent
in its promotion good governance roles including expressing the situations in
the society without fear of favour.
The statement read in
part: ‘’….It is therefore no longer news and new that good governance and
charismatic leadership have eluded the Southeast Zone. The Zone is now shackled
by transactional governance and chronic bad leadership. As a matter of fact,
corridors of power in the Southeast are now majorly under the grip of The
Anarchists. Art of governance has become
transaction of businesses in the corridors of power and shameless display of
political rascality and immorality.
‘’Many, if not most of
the legislators in the Geopolitical Zone are no longer legislating and
checkmating the executives for good governance and public good, but transacting
by cornering public funds into moveable and immoveable investments. Use of
public funds for public good is now strange and has become a thing of the past
in the Zone. Many, if not most State and Federal House legislators in the
Southeast Zone now operate or own private revenue windows and taskforces.
‘’It is so sad, shocking
and disappointing that some university professors and their likes in social
settings have now become shoe shiners, dusters of files, carriers of bags,
personal assistants and private secretaries to these anarchists and renegades
masquerading as executive and legislative public office holders in Nigeria
particularly in the Southeast Geopolitical Zone.
‘’We therefore have
strongly resolved to revisit and review critically; social, economic, political
and security and safety developments in Southeast Zone in the past years
including 2017. The events being revisited and reviewed are public interest
oriented. The roles played by their key players are evaluated and rated as the
best and the worst in the Southeast (1980s – 2017); involving the serving and former executive or
public governance, social services and security administrators in the Zone in
the past years including 2017.
In identifying and
celebrating dedicated leaders in South East , the group said: ‘’Those with
outstanding performances in ensuring provision and delivery of human security
(i.e. personal security, food security, health security, environmental
security, economic security, community security and political security) as well
as public decency and accountability in governance to the People of Southeast
in part or in whole; are rated and celebrated as the best personalities of the
Southeast Zone (1980s -2017). The public officers so named or recognized are
the serving or retired or living or dead (posthumous) public office holders
from the Zone; who are serving or had served in executive public offices. Their
recognition and celebration have become compelling following the sorry state of
governance and its peripherals in the Zone.
‘’In progressive and
prospering social climes, achievers and charismatic leaders are celebrated and
worshipped as religion and legends; but in Nigeria of today especially under
Buhari’s Presidency, such leaders are not only rarely found, but also mocked
and hated when found especially by members of the political class or political
elites. It is so bad that decency and outstanding achievement no longer have a
place in Nigeria’s political space. Failures are beatified and canonized while
achievements and their achievers are demonized and marked for destruction.
‘’It is also no longer
hidden that membership of political class in the Zone is now dominated and held
by jugulars by the black sheep of the society; thereby making good governance
and charismatic leadership attainment an act of impossibility. It is so bad
that any conscientious political player that operates in the opposite direction
while in office (i.e. provides good governance and quality leadership)
instantly draws the untamed anger of the immoral members of the political class
and marked for total destruction. He or she is further seen and treated as a
leper or a deviant.
‘’A clear case in point
is the attacks and destructive conspiracies against former Governor Peter Obi
of Anambra State by members of the political class; just because he insisted on
using public funds for public good during his days as the democratically
elected Governor of Anambra State (2006-2014). His remarkable transformation of
the State has, till date, not gone down well with the political elites who
attacked him for “making them hungry” during his tenure; instead of allowing
them access to public funds to loot and plunder at the teething expense of the
People of the State in particular and the Southeast in general.
‘’Obi’s achievements in
office are second to none since the days of late Dede Sam Mbakwe in old Imo
State (present Imo and Abia State and a part of Ebonyi State) and Chief Jim
Nwobodo in old Anambra State (present Enugu and Anambra States and larger part
of Ebonyi State).
‘’At the level of Intersociety
and SBCHROs, therefore, we must at all times insist on celebrating and
immortalizing the achievers of our time especially in the Southeast Zone. To
this effect, the trio of late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe (from Avutu-Obowo, Imo
State), Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo (Nkanu, Enugu State) and Chief Peter
Gregory Onwubuashi Obi (Agulu, Anambra State) must at all times make the hall
of fame as the great achievers of our time during their days as democratically
elected Governors of old Imo and Anambra and present Anambra States.
‘’If it is to be in other
social climes, these great leaders and achievers (noted are minuses in Chief
Jim Nwobodo’s present reputation and integrity) will eternally be celebrated
and immortalized. University faculties, research centers, care or charity
foundations and public monuments will be named after them. Their achievements
in office would also have been theorized and developed into courses of study in
the tertiary institutions.
The statement concluded:
‘’Those of them still living would have been made visiting or guest lecturers
and professors in some reputable universities particularly those in their
localities. They would also have been invited to chair or sit in the boards of regional
and int’l multibillion dollar companies and highly respected and influential
foundations and bodies’’.
SBCHRO’s moment of verdict on South East leaders and essence of good governance
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Saturday, March 03, 2018
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Saturday, March 03, 2018
Rating:
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