By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria
Immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi in Calabar at the weekend identified hunger and poverty as the real causes of agitations across different ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Obi stated that these two vices were the real reason forcing people to seek help in ethnic and tribal groups to cause confusion in the country.
The Anambra erstwhile governor stated this in Calabar during the 7th edition of the Bridge Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organisation found and funded by a former governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke.
The Bridged Leadership Foundation was set by Gov. Imoke in 2011 with a commitment to build generations of young people educated entrepreneurs who are ready to engaged citizens who are empowered to take responsibility for their lives.
Obi who spoke on the theme “Made in Nigeria: Local Production, Global Market’’. Stated that he would not end his speech without touching on the topic `Leadership and Integrity’, stressed that most of the agitations which spring up in Nigeria could be attributed to hunger and starvation which had in recent times gone beyond control simply because those responsible in the management of machinery of government lacked the vision on how to manage the nation’s affairs.
The former Anambra governor cited Boko Haram in the North East, militancy in the Niger Delta, the Independent People of Biafra in the South East and farmers/herdsmen clash as some of the challenges which has bedeviled the Nigeria nation in recent times.
“Nigeria has the resources and potentials of becoming the greatest country in the world. But, the country lacks visionary leaders.
“Today, we have different forms of agitations in Nigeria because the people are poor hungry. The leaders have lost touch with those that they lead’’, Obi stressed.
Obi lauded the former governor of Cross River State Sen. Liyel Imoke for the sustenance of The Bridge Leadership Foundation (Imoke’s pet project) in the last seven years, stressing that capacity building organized for youths was one of the ways to fight youth unemployment.
Earlier, Senator Imoke,who spoke on the objectives of the it foundation, maintained that it was formed to raise future leaders who would excel in business, economy and governance to make the society a better place.
The former minister of power and steel stressed that the foundation has made an impact on over 25,000 young people in the last seven years through the foundation’s numerous programmes and continued commitment of individuals, corporate organizations, partners, mentors and others.
“The foundation provides a valuable platform for young people to be inspired by the success stories of youths in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, who are scaling the huddles and challenges of growing up.
“Since 2011, we have worked towards reaching our vision of inspiring and empowering young people in Nigeria to fulfil their dreams and reach their greatest potential’’, Imoke maintained.
