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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governors Alex Otti of Abia State, Charles Soludo of Anambra State, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Centre, and other leaders have eulogised the virtues of the late Premier of defunct Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Okpara.
The leaders’ praises came in Umuahia, Abia State, during the inauguration of the endowment fund established in honour of late Dr. Okpara by Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).
Speaking while inaugurating the endowment fund and maiden Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara Lecture Series organised by the institution to mark the 30th anniversary of MOUAU, Governor Otti said he remained a student of Dr. Okpara’s brand of economics, which he said he had demonstrated in the appointment of experts in various fields in his cabinet.
Otti, who warned those who had converted school lands to private use to return them or face the consequences, said he would support Michael Okpara University in various ways, including giving the Certificate of Occupancy to it as requested.
Delivering a lecture he titled “Our Future In Our Past: Reinventing Dr. M.I. Okpara Policy For National Growth”, the Anambra State Governor and former Governor of the CBN, Prof Charles Soludo, reminded the people of the old Eastern Region that they once had a glorious past.
He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria had become a country whose past seemed to be more glorious than the present, regretting that, even to maintain things inherited by the heroes past, was a challenge
He bemoaned a situation where clean cities, social amenities, education, good roads and other life advancement projects were now fairy tales.
Governor Soludo, who described Dr. Okpara as a policy entrepreneur, nationalist, and humanist with character and selflessness, called on leaders to reinvent the ideals of the late premier as a guide to a better economy and for Nigeria to progress.
He said the election of Governor Otti as Abia Governor was a great favour for not only Ndi Abia but the entire South East, assuring that Abia would see developmental strides under Otti.
Speaking virtually, Dr.Okonjo-Iweala said Dr. Okpara was an incomparable role model in his accomplishments in agriculture, health, politics, adding that he left legacies in all fronts that all should follow.
She made a case for the present-day political leaders to serve the people in the manner late Dr. Okpara did.
President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, described the event as very important, stressing that the scorecard of Dr. Okpara would tell leaders of today whether they were doing well or not.
