Nigeria needs leaders with strong character – Osinbajo

ACTING President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday said Nigeria needs leaders of uprightness and strong character at all levels of governance structure in order to set the nation on the path of sustainable development.

He spoke just as the Elder Statesman, Maitama Sule, lavishly praised the virtues of the Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, describing him as an exemplary visionary leader of integrity and honesty worthy of emulation.

They both spoke at the 50th anniversary of the death of Ambassador Isa Wali which was held at the Yar’Adua center in Abuja, where family members, friends and well-wishers eulogised Wali who died half a century ago.

The event was organized by the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI) and organization founded in memory of the late diplomat.

Osinbajo who described late Ambassador Wali as a crusader of social justice crusader likened him to Martin Luther of the United States of America and Nelson Mandela of South Africa whom he said both fought for the rights of ordinary people in their nations.

He said there was also the need for men and women of strong character who could contribute positively towards economic and political development of the country.

According to him, people with such human values like the late Wali were not lacking in Nigeria, but insisted that they must be identified and allowed to contribute to nation building.

He said Ambassador Wali was a man who had a good sense of justice and shared some universal set of values that have helped in development across the globe.

“Our nation is in need of people who stand for human values, those who believe in trust-worthiness, integrity, honesty and hard work.

“We need to have those values and emphasize them because these are values that build nations around the world.

“Our nation needs more of visionary men and women that are ready to put the nation ahead of them,” the acting President noted.

He explained that to move Nigeria where everyone will be proud of, citizens must stand for these values which are necessary for progress.

“Ambassador Wali was well ahead of his time, you can see this with his desire to teach his wife how to drive in those days”.

A former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to United Nations, Maitama Sule, in his remark said Nigeria needs such visionary leaders, honed with integrity and patriotism like Chief Obafemi Awolowo to take the nation out of the wood.

He, however, said he found some of these Awolowo’s rare qualities in the Acting President, an indication that there was hope for the country.

“Let me tell you a secret that you never knew. His Excellency, Acting President Osinbajo is a sheep of the old block. He shares a lot in common with his in-law Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Awolowo was a man of integrity and our Acting President is man of integrity; Awolowo had no girl friend and Osinbajo has no girl friend; Awolowo is not a liar and our Acting President is not a liar. We need leaders like this,” he said.

The Elder statesman noted that Nigeria’s problem remained the absence of dedicated and committed people who are courageous like late Ambassador Wali.

He maintained that the Nigeria’s underdevelopment was not part of the Nigerian character.

Maitama said that Nigeria was a descent country, which started on a right footing.

“There was little corruption today; even the institution tradition has been affected. We are no longer ourselves, there is the demise of values,” he added.

The Elder Statesman, lamented that the Nigeria civil service and diplomatic service have been greatly politicised, adding that there was need to have independent and committed civil service for the country to move forward.

In his remarks at the event, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido noted that late Ambassador Wali was at the fore-front of promoting the cause of women and their rights in northern Nigeria as well as the dignity of children.

Emir Sanusi also stressed that Wali was so far ahead of his time and remained controversial in all his writing emphasizing what he so believed in.

According him, Wali spoke against violence against women, having children and polygamy which now has turned out to be a problem in the north.

The Emir said his emirate was considering a Family law that which will make domestic violence against women illegal, set condition to fulfill before a man can marry a second wife.

He said it will also spell the roles of the father apart from just giving birth to children who end up in the streets.

The Emir added that many have seen the consequences of men who are not economically viable and marry many wives; giving birth to children they can fend for.

Chairman of the occasion Ambassador Isaac Sagay said that Wali died on duty and was not honoured by the Federal Government.

He called on the Federal Government to honour the late diplomat to serve as encouragement to other Nigerians.

Also present at the event were former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, former Chief Justices of Nigeria Mohammed Uwais and Justice Aloma Murktar as well as former Speaker of the House of Representatives Ghali Na’Aba.