Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has called on politicians in the
country to emulate the leadership qualities of the former Premier of
Eastern Nigeria, late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, saying that the sage
rendered selfless service to humanity during his life time.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, Governor
Orji who made the call at a book launch titled ‘Dr. The Hon. Michael
Iheonukara Okpara: Lessons In Leadership and Service’, an authorized
biography of the former Premier of Eastern Nigeria published by Center for
General African Development and Studies in collaboration with Michael
Okpara Foundation which took place at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja,
described late M.I. Okpara as a loyal, humble and selfless accomplished
leader.
According to him, “late M.I. Okpara was a Nigerian patriot, a role model
in national service and was one leader who saw tomorrow. We loved and
cherished him dearly.”
The governor who said that late M.I. Okpara laid a solid foundation for
the growth and development of the Eastern Region noted that his visionary
leadership led to industrialization of all the sectors in the South-east
and South-south.
According to him, late M.I. Okpara’s adoption of pragmatic socialism in
governance led to agricultural and industrial revolution witnessed between
1959 to 1966.
Governor Orji who regretted that late M.I. Okpara’s good works were
truncated by the Nigerian/Biafran Civil War, noted that conflicts and wars
rather than encourage development, diminish and retard development.
The governor who described President Goodluck Jonathan as a disciple of
late Dr. M.I. Okpara, said the President’s transformation agenda was drawn
from the works of the former Premier of Eastern Nigeria.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion and former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
Prof Joe Irukwu, called on leaders to imbibe a life of service to the
people and expressed the hope that the book will inspire future
politicians to know that politics is a call to serve and not to make
money.
On his part, the book reviewer, Prof. Anya O. Anya, called on leaders to
emulate the virtues such as determination, vision, integrity, selflessness
which he said were exhibited by late M.I. Okpara.
Presenting the book on behalf of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike
Ekeremadu, Senator Uche Chukwumerije described the book as a fountain of
inspiration and reminded leaders of their role of influencing lives.
The wife of the former Premier, Dame Adanma Okpara while unveiling the
book noted that oil is the doom of Nigeria and prayed God to raise men
like M.I. Okpara as well as endow those that will read the book with
wisdom and knowledge.
Dignitaries at the book launch include Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and
Nkechi Nwogu, Representatives Okuchi Ibeji and Chinenye Ike, Minister of
Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Worgu, former Enugu State Governor,
Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, Nigeria’s consulate to South Africa, Okey Emuche,
Prof. S.O. Emejuiwe, Chief Uche Ogah, Chief Bob Ogbuagu, son of the sage,
Chief Uzodinma Okpara among others.