In a bid to instill leadership principles in the newly-elected officers in Anambra, the Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Enemo Azuka has organised a seminar for council chairmen, their deputies and councillors. The seminar was in partnership with Anambra Rebirth led by Dr Okey Ikechukwu.
The inaugural retreat on values and leadership was held on January 24 at the Women Development Centre, Awka. Its theme was “Call to Service: Re-inventing Leadership and Local Government Administration in Anambra State.
The event was chaired by retired Chief Judge of the state, Justice G. U. Ononiba.
In attendance at the event were the Governor-elect, Chief Willie Obiano, his deputy Dr Nkem Okeke, all traditional rulers and Presidents-General in the state as well as Governor Peter Obi who was accompanied by members of the state Executive Council led by Secretary to the State Government, Oseloka Obaze.
In his remarks, Governor Obi said two major challenges which the Nigerian society is experiencing were insults on those in leadership positions and disloyalty. He noted that those who think they were hurting the personality of President Jonathan by unnecessarily attacking and criticising him were invariably hurting the feelings of Nigerians.
According to him, what is lacking in Anambra’s and Nigerian politics is loyalty.
“Some think that they are hurting the personality of President Goodluck Jonathan but their action is, in essence, hurting Nigerians,” Obi said.
He urged the elected council chairmen and councillors to partner with and support government’s policies and programmes; even as he urged them to work towards lifting the well-being of the people who elected them into office.
Governor Obi urged the councillors-elect in the 21 local government areas of the state to be team players with their chairmen rather than scheming for their impeachment, adding that he is pitying his successor, Chief Willie Obiano who will, on March 17, assume office as governor of Anambra State. This, he said, is because Anambra people will blame him for everything that goes wrong in the state whether he is responsible or not.
He said he would take time to rest from the busy schedules of administering the state for eight years after he hands over to Obiano. He added that Obiano will, however, be lucky that he (Obi) has done some jobs in the state and would have to start from somewhere.
“When I was sworn in as the governor in 2006, there was nowhere to start from. I asked them where the governor’s office was and they said there was none. I enquired about where I will live and govern and they said none. Even this place was burnt down and to make matters worse, there was no one to hand over to me.” Obi said.
He called on the elected chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors to ensure that they provide benefits of democracy to the people of their localities.
Governor-elect Chief Willie Obiano was service-ready as he adopted the teachings of all the speakers.
Earlier in his address, the chairman of the occasion, Justice Godwin Ononiba (rtd) said that the seminar was designed to sensitise the elected chairmen and councillors on the right values for service.
“You are reminded that you are now addressed as honourables and you must therefore understand that it means good name, reputation and nobleness of mind. I have never seen this kind of seminar before in my entire career in the legal service in Anambra State. The resource persons are wonderful. This is to refocus the newly elected leaders at the local government level. This is a mentoring role for leaders to enable them to showcase the best practices as obtained all over the world. Leaders are custodians of values and must live by examples,” Ononiba said.
He congratulated Governor Obi on his resolve to conduct the election despite opposition, saying that that the seminar was designed to give the newly-elected politicians focus on right values and service delivery.
There were several lectures presented at the seminar and they dwelt on values and leadership.
In his lecture entitled “The Local Government Chairman as a Gardner: Lessons in Leadership,” Dr Okey Ikechukwu, Chairman Anambra Rebirth Organisation challenged the elected officials to maintain political loyalty.
“You must retain you natural habit by not allowing your new office ruin to your health, relationship with people and God.
“You must explore the value of excellence and remember that you are not in office to serve yourself,” Ikechukwu said.
The chairman also advised the elected officials to pay attention to selecting competent aides and promote stakeholders’ co-operation among their people.
“Let your vision come from your mission and the understanding of why you are in office,” he stressed.
In his lecture entitled “Challenges of Good Governance in the Face of Wrong Public Expectations,” Prof. Ben Osisioma of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka equally challenged the elected officials on values and leadership qualities.
“Focus on a government that protects the weak in the society and be men of good characters.
“”We need leaders who will unleash the creativity of our people and build on their strength; eschew religious bigotry and ensure equity and fairness at all times,” the Prof. of Accountancy stressed.
Other lectures entitled “Good Polling as Pre-condition for Good Governance,” “Custodian Role of Local Government Chairmen,” and “Values-based Leadership for People-centred Development” were presented by various speakers.
Monsignor Jerome Madueke, Director of Communications Catholic Diocese of Awka demanded that the elected men and women should allow their cultural, social and religious values uplift the positions they are occupying rather than diminish it. He challenged them to be self-reformed in accordance to their new roles of service as they were called for service and not self-aggrandisement and frivolous living.
For Prof. Obiora Francis Ike, Vicar-General Enugu Catholic Diocese who spoke an Igbo language despite having stayed over 30 years abroad with more than three Doctorate degrees in Philosophy said Anambra State has been a reference and the restoration of Igbo culture and tradition as well as language should start with Anambra State, even as he lamented the decay in culture and tradition of Ndigbo which has assisted the loss in language.
He decried the violence that is raging in the Northern Nigeria, pointing out that a visiting Bishop from Maiduguri said that, of his 52 churches, only two were still standing as bombs have destroyed other 50 edifices. He also lamented the killing of 1.5 million children in Igbo land during the Biafra civil war.
He said nothing has destroyed our culture and tradition like buying of certificates, grades and scores by students with the aid of parents and lecturers who should know better. He called for a rethink and rebirth of characters and priorities.
Prof. Ike told the audience that the greatest problem facing the country now especially Ndigbo and Anambra State in particular is problem of poverty of the mind which is selfishness. He urged Ndigbo to go back to their values and ethos for the sake of posterity.
On his part, Prince Nnagozie Ochi, Project Director / Chief Social Architect of Bridges to Goodness (B2G), a human infrastructure development organisation, harped on the need for equitable character exhibition by the new leaders through fairness and justice in decision taking.
In the past year, Anambra State Government has held a series of retreats for senior government officials in Enugu and Johannesburg, all aimed at enhancing service delivery output.
Reacting to what he referred to as a “well-packaged and salutary retreat,” SSG Oseloka H. Obaze commended the planners and said Governor Obi bought into the idea “since it would allow the newly elected officials to hit the ground running.”
A newly sworn in councillor, Mr. Jude Atupulazi from Nimo Ward, Njikoka Local Government Area Mr. Paul Nnatuanya from Ebenebe Ward Awka North Local Government Area commended the governor for organising such seminar, adding that he has been uplifted and motivated.
