BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, says the greediness and selfishness of most leaders are responsible for Nigeria’s failure to witness sustainable socio-economic growth and development over the years.
He said it is regrettable that despite being blessed with huge material and human resources, the country still wallows in the backwaters of underdevelopment among the comity of nations.
Speaking at the Literary Swansong and Day of Tributes held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa to honour the late Paramount Ruler of Tombia Community, HRH Christian Atani Otobotekere, the Deputy Governor lamented that selfishness and materialism have made development and progress difficult to achieve in the country.
He maintained that every progressive nation must have leaders who are not only patriotic and selfless, but also ready to make necessary sacrifices for the overall good of the country and the citizenry.
The Deputy Governor, while acknowledging the late Royal Father and educationist, popularly called ‘The Poet King’, as a man of impeccable character and integrity, challenged Nigeria’s political class to emulate people like Chief Otobotekere and the nation’s founding fathers in order to make positive impact in society.
He said it is also noteworthy that late nonagenarian’s lifestyle was devoid of greed, controversies and selfishness as he led the Tombia community for about 50 years and his native Ekpetiama Kingdom as the head of the clan for 14 years without any major intra or inter-communal crisis.
“Countries with selfish and greedy leaders are less progressive. Nigeria is not progressing because of the greed and selfishness of most of her leaders over the years. The less selfish a country’s leaders are, the more progressive it becomes, and vice versa.
“Our father whom we have all come to honour today, clearly lived an impactful life. He was not greedy. He was not also selfish. And so, we really have to imbibe and follow the footsteps and positive legacies of people like him for us to be able to make good progress in this country.”
In praising the departed traditional ruler for contributing immensely towards the intellectual development of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta region in general through his outstanding literary works, the Deputy Governor also applauded his children for the elaborate celebration they put together for their father at his 97th birthday.
He however admonished the gathering that it is more worthy to celebrate a great man while he is alive than doing so when he had passed on.
The Deputy Governor, who also responded to some of the issues raised by the reviewer of the 14 books written by the late Otobotekere, noted that the poet king deserved to be immortalized not just for a decade as recommended, but for as long as Bayelsa remains.
Also speaking earlier at the event, Chairman of the occasion, Dr Seiyifa Koroye, lauded Otobotekere’s contributions to literary development of society, with several anthologies consisting of more than 400 poems.
Describing the late Otobotekere as a compassionate and true leader of men in all spheres of life, Dr Koroye urged the Bayelsa State Government to institutionalize a biennial writers’ festival to immortalize the literary icon
The Book reviewer, Professor Kontein Trinya of the Ignatius Azuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, appreciated Otobotekere’s creative writings during his lifetime.
In a 30-minute presentation, Prof Trinya said though not streamed in the global literary screen, the late traditional ruler’s literary works have been quite outstanding, particularly in the genre of poetry.
