Essential Ndubuisi
By Pat Uchendu
Throughout history great and visionary leaders deal with the things of today to better the future. And when there are no exigencies or gross deficits in the moments of the present, they devote about 70% of their leadership skills to shape the future. But where there are deficits they are always practising balance. It’s a streak that is unmistakably evident when they talk, not just about obviously physical things, but those that sound infinitesimal. Anambra State needs a strategic leadership now than ever!
In the first Republic we saw that in Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the results about his style of leadership in the old Western Region are still being reaped enormously today. In the Eastern Region we saw that in late Chief Michael Okpala. For those who may not know, he established most of the infrastructures, industries and institutions of health and academia in the region. He saw strategically far! In recent times we saw that in Peter Obi. Or how do you explain that the gains of his administration are so enduring that the present government has been riding on that crest. But like all things that run on energy, they deplete in relativity to motion or, and expose to pitfalls. In Anambra State it’s currently glaring that the fuel of leadership is running on stutters and strait jackets!
Political leadership is a skill with a good measure of passion and without doubt Ndi Anambra are witnessing much of that in Hon Chris Azubogu, who has bearing enthusiasm, sustainable initiative and good judgement on priorities; unbelievable knowledge on many developmental ports and equitable spread of that which he has been able to attract from the centre. For that much he prioritises civic-minded developmental issues with great balance in strategic thinking and innovation about industrial policies. The Automotive Industrial Park is a case in point.
Vision and working such is all that matters here to him.
Let’s take a slice from one of Azubogu’s visions for just this article. Others are on queue in subsequent writeups.
Listen to him on the coming of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 1st January 2021. Paraphrased, he enthused:
“The AfCFTA trade Agreement presents a market consisting of 1.2 billion people and a combined GDP of $3 trillion with 54 of the 55 African Union member states and we have to do everything possible to crash the cost of Manufacturing and Distribution as a people in Nigeria in order to benefit from this new deal. He queries: “What is the future of manufacturing in Anambra state? How will Anambra State benefit from AfCFTA? How will Industries in Anambra benefit from AfCFTA?
The way?
Human and Physical Infrastructural Development. And he invites you to “Come, let’s build a system that can solve her problems”
Did you get that?
The emphasis is on a system that can solve her problems. That’s the call, that’s foresight, that’s leadership. That’s the seat he deserves.
