Current developments, unacceptable, pushing Nigeria to brinks – Anyoku

By Chuka Nnabuife| National Light

 

 ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria -Elder statesman Chief Emeka Anyoku has broken his silence on the state of the Nigerian nation. Speaking yesterday in Awka, Anambra State during the 10th edition of the Chief Emeka Anyoku Lecture on Good Governance, the Obosi, Anambra State-born eminent personality said events of the current era have necessitated his speaking in public despite his resolve to stay away several decades ago.

He described the country as drifting away from the dreams of her founding fathers.

“Developments in this country,” he appraised, “are pushing Nigeria to the brinks of national disaster.”

Bemoaning the degeneration of the country into international irrelevance in diplomatic circles and slide into the ranks of poverty-stricken nations, the 88-year-old veteran diplomat and erstwhile secretary general of the British Commonwealth said the level of deterioration has robbed Nigeria of desired respect and the well-needed sense of belonging by her citizens. He condemned the rise in cases of kidnapping and the acts of bandits who he said must be called what they are, “terrorists and nothing more”.

He also expressed deep worry over the recent assault of a Nigerian diplomat in Jakarta, Indonesia and noted that such a development indicates the ignominy with which the rest of the world now treats Nigeria. He disclosed that in their heydays in the diplomatic circles, such an odious treatment was not imaginable. Recalling how, even as a young  assistant in Nigeria’s embassy in the United States of America, in the 1960s and early 1970s, almost every state in the Americas craved his audience, he wondered why things awry within the intervening while, “which should be unacceptable” to us.

The event attended by the governor of Anambra State, Dr. Willie Obiano, who described Anyoku as one of the outstanding stars of the state, was chaired by a former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke.  An erstwhile deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and one time, aspirant for the office of President of Nigeria, Prof. Kingsley Muoghalu, gave the keynote paper of the occasion.

Other speakers were the former senator,  Ben Murray-Bruce and Prof. Hope Eghagha of University of Lagos.

In Moughalu’s view, “leadership not politics is the main driver of a nation’s progress.”Noting that the absence of leadership and sense of responsibility to the followers is the cause of general lack of good governance in Nigeria, Chief Muoghalu further cited obsession with exaction of power and interest in building of cliques and a clan of loyalists against interest in competence among other vices as the cause of misrule in the country.

Eghagha fingered the enthronement of people “without character” and obvious misunderstanding of the multiple cultures that make up the country. In Sen. Murray-Bruce presentation he emphasised the need for election of people who are visionary, creative-minded and have clear understanding of the emerging ideas. The event was held in Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka. Also in attendance were His Royal Majesties Obi, Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemka Achebe; Ezeoha, Isseke, Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife; Eze Iweka of Obosi among others.