By Ovat Abeng
A former president of Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi and others have said only radical change in Africa’s leadership will lead to sustainable development of the continent.
They spoke on Thursday at the 12th Annual Zik lecture with the theme: ‘Reclaiming Zik’s world: Climate Justice and Africa’s Sustainable Development,” held at the Secretariat complex of the Academic Staff Union of Universities of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
The annual Zik’s lecture series is in honour of Nigeria’s first President and Nationalist, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe his his virtues and contributions to Africa and Nigeria’s development were highlighted.
Banda, in her keynote address at the event, specifically said that the greatest problem facing African countries and Nigeria in particular is leadership.
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She also tasked Africans to rise up against the challenge of poor, insensitive and corrupt leaders who have continued to impoverish the continent and to explore peaceful and united opportunities towards achieving meaningful and peaceful growth and development.
She said, “African leaders are corrupt, that is the situation we all must take responsibility and find solutions. African leaders are involved in organized crimes and looting.
“Unfortunately, we are all onlookers. Why are Africans not raising eyes on this malpractices. The colonialist also looted and domiciled Africa’s wealth in Europe and United States while we are here suffering. That is why Africa is today in economic stagnation, natural disasters.
“African women should be involved in communities to participate in discussing the upliftment of women folk and ladies. Women are exploited in Africa and must be protected. Women are still being extolled rising in Africa and we have more women in politics in African countries. Africa has produced six women presidents.
“Change in climate must be a topic to African leaders to sustain our development, yet we are the poorest. Africa’s founding fathers like the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, laid the foundation of Nigeria’s birth. We should take inspiration from his legacies.”
On his part, Obi, who was the guest of honour, said unless Nigerians and Africans dismantle criminality amongst their leaders, the continent would continue to remain in dire stretch and irreconcilable woes.
He said, “The problem of Africa is leadership; it is African leaders that have turned the continent into a criminal enterprise. We must dismantle criminality in the continent.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Awka, Prof. Charles Esimone in his address said the theme of the lecture brought the name of Dr Azikiwe and his world view into an extant global phenomenon and climate change that is causing grave concerns in the world.
He said the world has been lost or vitiated somewhere along the line and now needs to be reclaimed.
“It captures the dilemma of Africa and its socio-economic development aspirations that while the industrialized world is seeking global action to curtail carbon emission, the culprit for climate change, resulting principally from industries in the industrialized world.”
The State Governor, Charles Soludo, on his part, called for socio-political and economic revival laced with nationalistic sport, peace and united front which late Nnamdi Azikiwe stood for.
Others guests present at the event include former Senate President and chairman Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Adolphus Wabara, Igwe Gibson Nwosu the Igwe of Awka kingdom and Father of the day.
