BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The Chairman, South East Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Fr. Abraham Chukwuma Nwali, has called on leaders and stakeholders of Ebonyi State to ensure continuous equity in rotation of power, to avoid bizarre in 2023 gubernatorial election.
Fr Nwali, said this while delivering a lecture on the theme: "Consolidation of the Grace of Good Leadership in Ebonyi State," in a mass service marking the seventeenth anniversary of Regina Pacis foundation in Abakaliki.
He commended the founder of the foundation and his wife, Sir and Lady Edward Okereke Nkwegu, saying that since 2005 till date they have been investing charitably through the Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO.
He however, explained that he was called to critically and constructively defend the theme of the lecture bordering on grace of the good leadership in Ebonyi State, prior to the second phase of the assignment - sustainability, which he considered as the epicenter of the activities in governance.
Nwali noted that Ebonyi has been a favourable child in her governance since her creation in 1996 while comparing her to her counterparts in the South East Zone.
He said his invitation to reflect on the consolidation on the grace of good leadership in Ebonyi State is an affirmative one, pointing that the organisers of the programme, preemptively have approved good leadership in the state.
Nwali recalled that Ebonyi State was created in 1996, now 25years old, courtesy of the then President of Nigeria, Sani Abacha and within the period has been served by two military administrators and three executive governors.
Speaking on the pattern of their leadership, Nwali said, Walter Feghabor - the Ebonyi State's First Military Administrator laid a very solid foundation, but his successor - Late Simeon Udoye emphasized on the role of functioning and functional civil service.
While the first Executive Governor of the state - Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu in his observation, restructured and emphasized on education, his successor - Chief Martins Nwanchor Elechi built the bridges of unity and championed on discipline in civil and public services whereas, his successor and the sitting Governor today, Engr David Nweze Umahi focuses on infrastructural development, religious relationship and care of the indigent persons in the society.
He said that Ebonyi leaders both in the past and at the present since the creation of the state might not be without records of some blind spots while delivering services, hence, in his words, the state has been enjoying the proverb of "half cup full" of good leadership.
"No one is completely bad and no one is completely perfect on Earth, because we are ongoing (Matthew 5:48)....," he hinted.
He further enumerated the criteria for good leadership which according to him, included transparency, accountability, observance of the rule of law, equity and inclusiveness, consensus oriented and responsiveness.
Nwali said the criteria for good governance were affirmed by many astute scholars in leadership to determine good and bad leaders in human environment, whether in politics, church and other sectors.
Emphasizing more on equity and inclusiveness, he said Ebonyi State is characterised by zoning system of leadership, and urged Ebonyians especially their stakeholders to adopt a fair play in the governorship position of the state.
"If Ebonyi State doesn't dwell on equity, the people will diminish, because, unfavorable treatment and marginalization will automatically become the case of one zone or the other. In Ebonyi, we have North, Central and South. If it's so deserves that equity - two years ago, we were about to have that problem, a group come to Bishop Michael Okoro that they would want the zoning to be cancelled.
"If the Bishop had consented to that request, we would have destroyed the peace of this state. I thanked God that the Bishop said 'no' we will respect the equity.
"Any government that is not supporting equity and inclusiveness is actually not on good governance. The equity is that the North has completed her period. The equity is that the central has completed her period and the equity is that, South is about to complete her period.
"If in 2023, and the north is cut off from taking her turn, by producing the governor of the state, it means the equity has been destroyed, and nothing will make anybody from the south to be the governor of the state in the next twenty years.
"To the government if you destroy equity, you have become poverish and that's the worst never expected to happen because the South will never smell governorship position again in Ebonyi State. Any attack on equity in Ebonyi, is attack against fairness and justice in the state.
"Nigeria is suffering today because of disrespect of zoning and all the parties today are clamouring, and if equity is not maintained, the youths will take their stand and take over the leadership of the country.
"If Ebonyi State plays with equity, fairness and justice, Ebonyi State will experience bizzare in leadership found in some Igbo states today," Fr. Nwali said.
Nwali, who is also the Chairman of CAN in Ebonyi State and Senior Special Adviser to Governor David Nweze Umahi on Religion and Welfare Matters, said that a good leader must have a listening ear - being a consensus oriented and responsive, commended those who had served as the governors of the state, and recommended that the next administration come 2023, should focus on 'civil service and industrialization.'
The Catholic Priest recalled the challenges of the time, which in his words stand at a chance to pose a great threat to human existence and the leadership system in the whole world.
"Our time distinct from Kairos is Chromos, it's a generation, global age, of 5G network, technological era. Age dominated by Facebook, Twitter, Google, ISP and Vsat. It's an age battling with the virtues of gratitude and contentment. It's far easy to be ungrateful, discontent, destructively critical, than be on the positive.
"It's age of chronic unemployment, youth revolution. It's an age challenged by corruption, social vices and moral decadence. In it, we are conquerors," he said.
He equally called for the sustainability of good leadership in the state, through a regular practice of maintenance culture.
He observed that the society has its peculiarity on maintenance culture, 'although, in his words, 'it is not easy to build', but 'far more challenging to maintain.'
To sustain, according to him, requires sustainable leadership matters - the importance of a good successor and ensuring legacies.
Also, sustainable leadership spread (equity), in justice, in resourcefulness, promotion of diversity and activism are required.
Nwali as well urged all the ministers of God to continue to pray for the leaders, saying that the church should see as its first priority by praying for the government in power, preaching true words of God as the second and modeling truth, justice and righteousness as the third roles in service delivery.
