The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo has revealed that renewal of the ideals of the former Premier of Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara was the only way to help Nigeria reclaim its glorious past.
Soludo who made the call as the Keynote Speaker at the Dr. M.I Okpara’s Maiden Memorial Lecture at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, said that regrettably, Nigeria was a country whose past was more glorious than its present, as it has been developing backwards for decades when compared to countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea, which were at the same level as Nigeria at Independence.
The Governor noted that the foundation for Nigeria’s future must start with a regeneration of its past, and that Dr. Okpara was a great example of the kind of leadership that Nigeria needs to reclaim its greatness.
He revealed that Dr. Okpara was a nationalist, humanist, and policy entrepreneur who believed in the power of sustainable wealth creation and using public finance to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Prof. Soludo equally lamented that Nigeria abandoned its traditional industries, such as palm oil production, in pursuit of oil, which has sadly led the country into becoming a net importer of crude oil.
He urged those in leadership to imbibe Dr. Okpara’s principles and ideologies and to work to create a Nigeria where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
