Former Malawian president, Dr Joyce Hilda Banda, has praised the leadership qualities of the first president of Nigeria, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, and, urged African leaders to embrace his philosophy for a united Africa and development.
She also blamed the current African leaders for the poverty and lack of development ravaging the continent and called on the ordinary citizens to employ radical action to compel their leaders to be accountable, visionary and work collaboratively in tackling the challenges of African countries.
She made the call while delivering lecture at the 12th Annual Zik Lecture Series on the theme: “Reclaiming Zik‘s World: Climate Justice and Africa‘s Sustainable Development“ organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, Anambra State yesterday.
The former president particularly condemned Africa leaders who force themselves to the leadership position of their countries through vote-buying and falsification of election results, and, stated that such practices were counter-productive to providing good governance and advancing democracy.
She stated for instance that during the last Malawian general election in 2020, the incumbent president had altered the results of the election in his favour, but, that the „award winning Malawian Judiciary nullified the election“.
Dr Banda asked African women to show interest on issues that concern womenfolk in their communities, saying that even before the colonial era there were many African women who provided credible leadership.
Other speakers at the event include the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, and, his Oyo state counterpart, Seyi Makinde; benefactor of the Zik‘s Annual Lecture Series, Senator Ben Obi, and, vice chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone, eulogised Zik‘s vision for African leadership, unity and development.
Obi, particularly called for cutting down of cost of governance, and, giving priority attention to funding critical development sectors like education.
He stated that a situation, like in Nigeria, where a monthly overhead of the vice-chancellor of a Nigerian university is about N10million and N120million a year, while, an official vehicle of a federal lawmaker could cost above N140million was a misplacement of priority.
Makinde in his remarks praised Zik‘s philosophy for a united Nigeria and oneness of Nigeria and, advised that the country should be restructured into a federation.
Soludo said that his administration would promote Zik‘s philosophy by providing quality education, and, improving the lots of the ordinary person, especially the destitute and poor. Esimone pledged that UNIZIK would continue to promote the virtues of Zik.
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