Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has called on politicians in the
\ncountry to emulate the leadership qualities of the former Premier of
\nEastern Nigeria, late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, saying that the sage
\nrendered selfless service to humanity during his life time.<\/p>\n
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, Governor
\nOrji who made the call at a book launch titled ‘Dr. The Hon. Michael
\nIheonukara Okpara: Lessons In Leadership and Service’, an authorized
\nbiography of the former Premier of Eastern Nigeria published by Center for
\nGeneral African Development and Studies in collaboration with Michael
\nOkpara Foundation which took place at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja,
\ndescribed late M.I. Okpara as a loyal, humble and selfless accomplished
\nleader.<\/p>\n
According to him, “late M.I. Okpara was a Nigerian patriot, a role model
\nin national service and was one leader who saw tomorrow. We loved and
\ncherished him dearly.”<\/p>\n
The governor who said that late M.I. Okpara laid a solid foundation for
\nthe growth and development of the Eastern Region noted that his visionary
\nleadership led to industrialization of all the sectors in the South-east
\nand South-south.<\/p>\n
According to him, late M.I. Okpara’s adoption of pragmatic socialism in
\ngovernance led to agricultural and industrial revolution witnessed between
\n1959 to 1966.<\/p>\n
Governor Orji who regretted that late M.I. Okpara’s good works were
\ntruncated by the Nigerian\/Biafran Civil War, noted that conflicts and wars
\nrather than encourage development, diminish and retard development.<\/p>\n
The governor who described President Goodluck Jonathan as a disciple of
\nlate Dr. M.I. Okpara, said the President’s transformation agenda was drawn
\nfrom the works of the former Premier of Eastern Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion and former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,
\nProf Joe Irukwu, called on leaders to imbibe a life of service to the
\npeople and expressed the hope that the book will inspire future
\npoliticians to know that politics is a call to serve and not to make
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
On his part, the book reviewer, Prof. Anya O. Anya, called on leaders to
\nemulate the virtues such as determination, vision, integrity, selflessness
\nwhich he said were exhibited by late M.I. Okpara.<\/p>\n
Presenting the book on behalf of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike
\nEkeremadu, Senator Uche Chukwumerije described the book as a fountain of
\ninspiration and reminded leaders of their role of influencing lives.<\/p>\n
The wife of the former Premier, Dame Adanma Okpara while unveiling the
\nbook noted that oil is the doom of Nigeria and prayed God to raise men
\nlike M.I. Okpara as well as endow those that will read the book with
\nwisdom and knowledge.<\/p>\n
Dignitaries at the book launch include Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and
\nNkechi Nwogu, Representatives Okuchi Ibeji and Chinenye Ike, Minister of
\nLabour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Worgu, former Enugu State Governor,
\nChief Okwesilieze Nwodo, Nigeria’s consulate to South Africa, Okey Emuche,
\nProf. S.O. Emejuiwe, Chief Uche Ogah, Chief Bob Ogbuagu, son of the sage,
\nChief Uzodinma Okpara among others.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n