Vanguard Personality of the year Award

Let me begin by appreciating my good friend, in-law and compatriot, Uncle Sam Amuka, easily called Uncle Sam, the Publisher of the Vanguard titles on whose, invitation I am here today. Looking back at those good old days like a series of snapshots in an album, with different phases and faces in our journey through life, one cannot but thank God for the successes we have recorded in our various undertakings, I make bold to say that Uncle Sam is that ,uncommon Nigerian who understands the nexus between media and power, and the value and virtue of good friendship. I deeply cherish this association. May the Almighty God continue to grant you strength and wisdom as you age gracefully.

The Vanguard Newspaper has grown in lips and bounds; with young and very dedicated staff who have sustained the corporate objective of a platform that derives its independence and freedom from  political control from Uncle Sam’s worldview. With a few foundation staff in 1983 when it debuted, it has grown to be a great economic player and employer of labour with over 500 personnel on its payroll.

Despite the fact that one of my Military Administrators briefly suspended Vanguard Newspaper in 1990, it did not strain my relationship with Uncle Sam. We have trudged on  like two great Nigerians who understand the dynamics of political power and the vanity of human nature. Once again, I salute Uncle Sam.

It is against this background that one should consider himself privileged ,if the Vanguard Newspaper decides to invest its honour and prestige on any Nigerian. The choice of Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State and  Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, both young and impactful Nigerians, becomes as it were, very instructive.

The awardees, I understand, were elected from a list of several nominees by the body of Editors from the Vanguard stable having been carefully screened and assessed on the basis of their achievements in their present engagements. To me, the two gentlemen represent the normative order of a new generation leadership orientation that is anchored on love for country, service delivery and patriotism.

Pix from left General Ibrahim Babangida, Chairman of the occassion; Personality of the year man, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State and Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher at the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award 2012 held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday.

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.

His conviction that the federating units in the country should be allowed to enjoy some level of independence and exploit their comparative advantages often, gets him into trouble, understandably so. I do not envy him. With leaders who are brutally frank about issues and ,the politics of transition, leaders  who are driven by their convictions like Amaechi and Aig-Imoukhuede, Nigeria still has tremendous hope.

One aspect of Governor Amaechi’s achievement is his intervention in the education sector in his home State. I am aware he has done so much to uplift the face of education in Rivers State. He has also been involved in scholarship programmes for Rivers State students some of whom he sent to schools up North for foundational studies in the spirit of national integration. This is one way to plan for the future.

Some of us who now live for time against the backdrop of the ridiculous life expectancy age of 47, do have a different attitude towards governance and the unity of our country. 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. We still hear such terms as fringe groups and mainstream groups. We still fan the embers of “this is minority” and “that is majority”.

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; and creating an enabling environment for free enterprise to nurture and groom professionals like Aig-Imoukhuede. There must be a synergy between the processes that produce leaders and the institutions that nurture such leadership.

On a final note, we all must admit that we do have a task on our hands; ,the task of making this marriage work. A marriage that has survived almost 100 years can no longer be said ,to be an accident. We should desire to be Nigerians whose minds and hearts flood with abiding faith in our nation’s virtue and generousity; and above all as citizens whose relation to society is untormented by mutual suspicion, ethnicity and political differences.

By giving teeth to dreams of socio-political transformation, we make the society better for all. What are we telling the electorates to earn their confidence and their votes? How much of what we told the electorates during campaigns are we able to fulfill when we get into office? How do we address poverty and deprivations?

Let me salute my brother and friend, the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives; Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for giving us hope and assurances. His conduct has shown that the upcoming generation has the capacity to sustain the labour of our heroes past. When leaders like Tambuwal have delivered on their electoral promise, we advise them to try something higher. For Tambuwal, your guess is as good as mine. Well done.

And to the organisers of this investiture, I say more grease to your elbows. To Uncle Sam, I say congratulations.