Former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) has described the winner of the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award 2012, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State and the runner-up, Group Managing Director (GMD), Access Bank, Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede, as two gentlemen that represent the normative order of a new generation leadership orientation that is anchored on love for country, service delivery and patriotism.
General Ibrahim Babangida spoke last Saturday at the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award 2012, held at the Expo Centre, Eko Hotels in Lagos.
“One should consider himself privileged if the Vanguard Newspaper decided to invest its honour and prestige on any Nigerian …the awardees, I understand, were elected from a list of several nominees by the body of Editors from the Vanguard, having screened and made assessment on the basis of their achievements in their present engagement”, Babangida said.
“In fact, given their humanity, there is nothing extra-ordinary about their creation but there is something, extra-ordinary about their leadership emanations. For example, Governor Amaechi is not just a governor in whom I am well pleased, but one that has been able to make a bold impression about promise and performance, in a Nigerian political space that is grappling with challenges of development and good governance”, Babangida explained.
While taking stock of Governor Amaechi’s achievement in the education sector, Babangida said, Amaechi has been involved in scholarship programmes for Rivers State students some of whom Amaechi also sent to schools up North for foundational studies in the spirit of national integration.
“The emphasis now should be about deepening democracy and enhancing the public welfare of the people who are the repository of power. We must tread with caution both in our utterances and deeds. We must reduce the currency of political marginalization, inequality, domination, oppression, and exclusion,… I think we need to begin to re-assemble our thoughts and re-engineer our political engagements on the basis of free choice, credible elections, inclusive participation, constructive engagement and collective bargaining. We must make the votes count in order to produce leaders such as Governor Amaechi”, Babangida opined.
“We all must admit that we do have a task on our hands; the task of making this marriage work. We should desire to be Nigerians whose minds and hearts flow with abiding faith in our nation’s virtue and generosity, and above all as citizens whose relation with society is untormented by mutual suspicion, ethnicity and political differences. By giving teeth to dreams of socio-political transformation”, he said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Publisher and Founder of the Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, said, the “stamp of excellence” on Governor Amaechi and his runner-up Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede is an indication of their various contributions towards a better life for the people in the nation’s democracy.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi commended Vanguard Newspaper for effectively discharging its social responsibility to the Nigerian society and beyond with unflinching commitment to promote free enterprise, the rule of law and good governance.
Governor Amaechi also explained his administration’s commitment to render accountable and transparent leadership anchored on integrity and good governance to Rivers people through his people-oriented projects.
He also promised to ensure steady power supply this year to promote the economic base of the state as well as creation of employment opportunities for the unemployed.
“I am humbled by your presence and that over 200 Nigerians signed and pledge their support for the vanguard investiture on me”, Amaechi said.
Dignitaries present at the occasion include Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, members of the National Assembly, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Aliko Dangote, traditional rulers, Commissioners, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, amongst others.
Source: TheTideNewspaper
