I don’t want to be remembered for my many fights — Obaseki

By Gordi Udeajah

States carved out of the defunct Eastern Region have been advised to go back to the vision and legacies left by its late former Premier, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, if they desired rapid growth in their economies and infrastructure.

Okpara, who governed Eastern Nigeria from 1959 to 1966 and died in 1984, had a vision that revolutionised infrastructure development, agriculture, industry, commerce, education, peace, unity and mass employment across the region now comprising Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River, Imo and Rivers states.

But rather than sustain or improve on this vision and legacies, speakers at the 30th Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike’s (MOUAU) anniversary, Founders’ Day celebrations, said succeeding leaders, especially those of the present Southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo have allowed the inherited infrastructure and companies to decay.

At the anniversary, Founders’ Day, which birthed a biennial lecture series and an endowment fund in honour of the late premier, MOUA’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, advised the states to copy Okpara’s ideals and model in leadership, agriculture and entrepreneurship.

“We should have dedicated this day to celebrate our successes and achievements, but we are constrained because there are many issues begging for attention in the Nigerian university system, including our university.

“There is crying need for infusion of funds for the upgrade of our physical environment, especially when it is realised that MOUAU is among those that started with the disadvantage of not having a take-off grant from government and the absence of endowment fund before now.”

Earlier, son of the late Premier, Chief Uzodinma Okpara, told The Guardian that their family of Umuegwu Okpuala in Umuahia North Council of Abia State appreciates the university for honouring their late father, while commending the Federal Government for immortalizing their patriarch by renaming  MOUAU after him and prayed that the university would fulfill its statutory mandate.

Also speaking at the event, Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, who presented the inaugural lecture titled, “Our Future In Our Past: Reinventing Dr. M.I Okpara’s Policy For National Growth,” recalled that the old Eastern Region once had a glorious past and lamented that the past seemed to be more glorious than its present. He faulted the leaders that emerged after Okpara for failing to sustain his vision and various accomplishments/achievements in various sectors.

Soludo described the late premier as a policy entrepreneur, nationalist and humanist with character and selflessness and tasked the present leaders to reinvent Okpara’s ideals as they strive for the region’s progress.

Among dignitaries at the event were the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala; President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; former Vice Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndifu, Ebonyi State, Professor Chinedu Nwajuba and Professor Uchenna Nwachukwu of the Southern Connecticut University, U.S.

While Dr. Iwuanyanwu extolled Dr. Okpara’s virtues and achievements, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke virtually, described the late premier as an incomparable role model in his accomplishments in agriculture, health, politics and other fronts and tasked current political leaders to serve the people in the manner late Dr. Michael Okpara did.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, who was the chief host and launcher of the Lecture Endowment Fund, said it was curious that the late premier, a medical doctor, articulated, demonstrated and effected a vision and accomplishments that were more economical.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who was represented by the ministry’s Director, Special Duties, Mrs. Fausat Lawal, said: “In celebrating MOUAU at 30, it is important to pay special tribute to Dr Michael Okpara, the premier of the Eastern Region from 1959 to 1966, an icon in whose honour the university was renamed from its former name as Federal University of Agriculture in 2000 in acknowledgement and recognition of his significant roles in the socio- economic development of the then region and the nation.”

Senator Kyari affirmed: “Agriculture remains an important sector of the national economy as we explore the country’s comparative advantage of diverse ecologies endowment, vast arable land, favourable climatic conditions and potential youth workforce.” (Guardian)