S/East leaders urged to immortalize Okpara

Political leaders in the South East have been asked to reinvent the legacies of the former Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr Michael Okpara, in order to fast track socioeconomic development in the region.

The Executive Director of African Heritage Institute, Prof. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, made the call in Enugu at a press briefing on the second edition of the Big Ideas Podium lecture series entitled, ‘Towards a New Leadership for a Broken Nation.’

The lecture will be delivered by a former Director -General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. George Obiozor.

Okeke-Uzodike observed that for the South East and Nigeria at large to march into the future, “there is the need for us to look back and reflect deeply on the legacies of many of our previous leaders; to identify and extract worthy lessons that have the prospects of putting us in good stead.”

He said leadership was not about having long titles, being in expansive motorcades with blaring sirens, or making flowery or long speeches.

“Leadership is getting things done with positive results,” he said.

He said the outcome of the lecture was expected to inform “not only our understanding of the importance of visionary leadership, but also policy decisions on good governance and effective planning in Nigeria.”