The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, on Wednesday visited the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he urged Nigerians to demand ethical leadership at all levels of government.
Bellnews reports that the former governor of Anambra State, in a statement on social media, said he chaired the Ethical Leadership Lecture organised by the Strategic Contacts, Ethics, and Publication (STRACEP) of the UNN.
In his remarks, Obi reiterated the need for Nigerian political leaders at all levels of government to live out the true qualities of integrity and uprightness. He said meaningful progress and development cannot be achieved when leaders have questionable and unverifiable pasts.
Obi emphasised that for a nation to grow and develop, it must be founded on ethical leadership and integrity. He called for a new political culture in which parties are run by people of integrity.
He also expressed concern about the deep-rooted corruption and electoral malpractices that continue to plague Nigeria. He urged Nigerians to demand ethical leadership at all levels of government.
He wrote:
I was happy to visit the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on Wednesday, where I chaired an event – Ethical Leadership Lecture, organised by the Strategic Contacts, Ethics and Publication, (STRACEP) of the University.
I reiterated the need for our political leaders, at all levels of government, to live out the true qualities of integrity and uprightness. We cannot expect meaningful progress and development when we have leaders with questionable and unverifiable pasts.
For a nation to grow and develop, it must be founded on ethical leadership and integrity. Our leadership recruitment process, if built on sincerity and ethics will produce upright leaders, chosen by the people to bring progress and societal development.
This calls for a new political culture in which parties are run by people of integrity. Unfortunately, Nigeria has continued to grapple with deep -rooted corruption, electoral malpractices, as very visible in the last elections.
We, as a nation, must now pursue ethical leadership at all levels of government. I thank my brother, Chief Ben Etiaba, for his wonderful lecture on ethics. He explained the need for the nation to always shop for good leaders who prioritize human dignity, respect for rule of law, integrity and accountability and who understand the workings of a modern economy. I also congratulate Her Excellency, Dame Virgy Etiaba, the 1st Female Governor in Nigeria, and Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof Patrick Uchenna Okpoko, who were both conferred with Ethical Leadership Awards because of their ethical leadership qualities. I equally thank Prof Arinzechukwu Igwe, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, for the great work he is doing in the Institution. With integrity and ethical leadership, we will build the New Nigeria of our dreams which is becoming more possible by the day.