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Critical stakeholders in Igbo-Eze South and Nsukka Local Government Areas of Enugu state, comprising of government officials and traditional rulers, on Thursday 24th June, converged for the official flag-off of “Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Leadership Roundtable/Interactive Session” for the sole purpose of sustaining the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

The program which took place at Adada Hall in Nsukka LGA was organized and anchored by Leadership Scorecard Media Company.

In his welcome address, the Publisher/CEO of Leadership Scorecard Magazine, Hon. Humphrey Onyima, said the meeting was important “for the common purpose of reinstating the endless benefits of peaceful behaviour in the process of individual and collective development.”

While outlining the fact that ‘peaceful engagement breeds development’, Onyima who also doubles as Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Public Affairs, noted that “as our socio-political system continue to evolve, the principles of political leadership, human capital development, infrastructural development, internal security, justice, fairness, tolerance, peace, progress and economic growth become necessary and must inter-twine, mingle and romance as parts of a whole, in order to bring about massive development in all facets.”

He pointed out that Nigeria having adopted the democratic system of governance in 1999, was still finding it difficult to extricate herself from the long, oppressive military rule and has consciously or unconsciously failed to utilize the opportunity of democracy and independence to engender “sustainable nation building and development through astute leadership and integration of ideas.”

He added that: “The structure inherited by our founding fathers from the colonialists has this far created and promoted a demon once described by late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as dichotomy.

“We live in a country in search of common character; and the absence of the common character is at the base of our problems as a nation.

“Today, when we look at Nigeria from whatever direction, no matter the focus of our perspective, everything bears the frightful aspect of the dichotomy. It is either you see North/South dichotomy or East/West dichotomy. If it is not Majority/Minority dichotomy; it will be Christian/Muslim dichotomy or Socialist/Capitalist dichotomy. If you look further, you will notice an alarming Rich/Poor dichotomy, Educated/Non-educated dichotomy, Tribal/Cultural dichotomy, Male/Female dichotomy, Youth/Old dichotomy, Rural/Urban dichotomy, and it goes on and on.”

Onyima, however, said that such dichotomies does not exist in Enugu state, adding that “such dichotomies was evacuated, exterminated, eliminated, eradicated and decimated by the peace-loving, gentle, humble, calm and youth-friendly Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.”

He described the governor as an apostle of peace, adding that “where good men are scarce, strife and disorder rule. You cannot have peace without someone placing his personal time, resources and comfort as burnt offering on the slab for what every other person enjoys. Justice, fairness and equity are the factors responsible for the peace we enjoy in Enugu state.”

He concluded that Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Leadership Roundtable/Interactive Sessions with Critical Stakeholders across the 17 LGAs of the state shall seek to promote factors responsible for the peace being enjoyed by citizens of state.

The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba PhD, in his opening remarks, thanked Leadership SCORECARD (the organizers of the event) for their commitment and support to the Government of Enugu State. He applauded the governor for his efforts towards achieving and sustaining peace for the development of the state.

According to him: “We cannot achieve peace without bringing in factors such as justice, fairness that leads to achieving peace. The Governor of Enugu state is a promoter of peace. There’s no dichotomy in his government. He carries everybody along: both the old and young, men and women. That is why we’re enjoying peace in Enugu state. If there’s any problem or dispute in any local government, the governor will call those involve and settle the problem. That is why we have peace in Enugu state. He’s a man that believes in peace and we as critical stakeholders must support him in sustaining that peace and making sure that Enugu state continue to enjoy peace so that development will go round every nooks and crannies of the state.

“If you go to other states in Nigeria, you can hardly see a gathering like this without fear of the unknown or the people being afraid of any eventuality happening. Therefore, it is important that we continue doing all those things that will enable us to continue to have peace in Enugu state.

“This gathering will enable us to discuss, proffer solutions and bring ideas on how we’re going to sustain peace in Enugu state.

“My prayer is that whoever that will succeed the governor come 2023, will continue to implement ideas to sustain peace that we enjoy in this state. We hope that the incoming administration will also continue with the development His Excellency has put in place.

Nwamba further reiterated the need for cooperation among all relevant stakeholders in sustaining the legacy of peace instilled by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration into the socio-political atmosphere of Enugu State.

“Finally, let me also appeal to the organizers of this event to reach out to all the local government chairmen, town union presidents, clergies, women organizations and traders in our various communities in a bid to continue to entrench peace in Enugu state.”

Presenting a paper on “Sustenance of Peace We Enjoy In Enugu,” the Guest Speaker and Dean of Student Affairs, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Edwin Omeje, highlighted the attributes of peaceful leadership to include truthfulness, responsibility, accountability, loyalty, self-awareness, impression management, vision, assertiveness, tolerance and the fear of God.

He noted that “peaceful leaders are characterized by having inclusive means of operating, participatory systems that bring the governed into the process of decision making, systems for accountability that ensure transparent and equitable operations, and enough systemic capacity that they are able to provide physical security and public goods supporting human development. When all these elements are present, they form a mutually reinforcing virtuous cycle that reduce the risk of violence.”

He further stated that democracy serves as a political emancipation of the people and as an idea that enables the emergence of servant leaders who are willing to feel the socio-economic and cultural pulse of the people.

“This political surgery or emancipation is systematically patterned and occasioned in order to achieve a lasting relieve of the people to enhance their welfare and create a developed human society,” he stressed.

Omeje pointed out that Governor Ugwuanyi at his emergence to pilot the affairs of the state in 2015 and 2019, made a careful articulation of the needs of his people which was hinged in a focused 4-point agenda of employment generation, social service and good governance, rural development, security and social justice.

“With the above areas of focus, the Governor Ugwuanyi administration engaged on expansive distribution of good governance across the state using the main 4-point agenda which clearly indicates a good understanding of building sustainable democratic tenants which culminated into the people’s needs. The state government is pragmatically forward with sustained pursuit of these agenda,” he said.

He further explained what he referred to as the “Gburugburu model” in peace building and consolidating democratic governance, put in place by Ugwuanyi’s administration to ensure political and economic wellbeing of the residents.

Omeje stressed that the measures of community policing, establishment of vigilante/neighbourhood watch groups, ethno-religious conflict management, grassroot democracy, improved economy via foreign direct investment were some of the measures employed by Ugwuanyi’s government to further engender peace and order in the state.

“Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s peaceful governance approach in Enugu has continued to support inclusive development and security in Enugu. Following the successes of the governor’s leadership model, we conclude that the entire leadership of the Southeast and Nigeria in general should emulate the peaceful socio-economic and political governance model of Governor Ugwuanyi to build a sustainable economic and political system,” he concluded.

The Chief Host of the event, Hon. Barr. Cosmas Ugwueze, the Council Chairman of Nsukka LGA ably represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Council, Chief Barr. Walter Ozioko extolled Gov. Ugwuanyi’s uncommon peaceful administration in Enugu State.

Climax of the event was the presentation of certificates of recognition to the Special Guests of Honour as Outstanding Icons of Peace, namely Rt. Hon. Dr. Pat Asadu, member representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly Abuja, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, the Executive Chairman of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Chief Engr. Vita Abba, the former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State, Dr. Dan Shere, former Secretary to the Enugu State Government.

The certificates of recognition as Peace-Ambassadors was conferred on the Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba PhD, member representing Nsukka East State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, the Chief Host – Hon. Cosmas Ugwueze, the Council Chairman of Nsukka LGA and the Guests of Honour, namely Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Ugwuerua, member representing Nsukka West State constituency, Hon. Emeka Mmadu, member representing Igbo-Eze South State Constituency, Sir. R.U Odo – the State Accountant General.

The certificates of recognition as Royal Peace Ambassadors was bestowed on His Royal Highness, Igwe A.O Ochike (Chinyelugo 1 of Lejja) – Chairman Nsukka Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Ike Oke – the Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Traditional Ruler’s Council, High Chief Dr. M.U Agboeze (Ezenacho Ideke) – the Chairman Council of Oha Nsukka and other royal fathers.

Other dignitaries at the event includes, the representative of the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uchenna Eze, ably represented by Chief Uchenna Ossai- Area Inspector of Education for Nsukka, representatives of Attorney-General of the state, Barr. Miletus Eze and Honorable Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Vitus Okechi amongst other representatives of the Special Guests of Honour and other invited Guests of Honour.

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