Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has advised Nigerians to continue talking about all aspects of governance in the country.
Obi who spoke on Tuesday when he paid a visit to Pope John 11 Major Seminary, Okpuno in Anambra State, warned that the danger in keeping quiet was that those in authority might be sufficiently shielded by their aides from knowing the true position of things in the country.
He said that part of the problem those in authority face was that the vocal ones that enjoy one favour or the other from government were always dumb to the problems of the country, advising “such ones to at least use sign language if they have lost the faculty of speech.”
Addressing the students after eating breakfast with them, Obi talked on spiritual, social as well as economic issues, while dispelling the belief that leaders view criticisms as subversive to government.
On the contrary, Obi said, great leaders listen to criticisms of genuine patriots and act on the basis of that.
“As the Governor and even now, I listen to what people say because no person is perfect. Even though some talk out of other reasons, thereby standing truth on its head, but there are genuine critics who speak out of love for the country. When such people talk, as humans one might get annoyed, but I assure you that those sorts of things help one to reflect in one’s quiet moment,” he said.
The former governor called for more commitment on the part of the Presidency to all areas of concern, such as health, security, education and employment, adding that critical analysis of other countries would show that Nigeria has not invested enough in critical areas.
“Take education as an example; what Nigeria budgets for education in seven years is far less than what South Africa budgets in a year,” he said.
Referring to Seminarians as the “priests of tomorrow”, Obi told them that they are being trained to become leaders either in the religious or secular world and that they can only make a success of it by being receptive to the training they are receiving today.
Earlier, the Rector of the school, Fr. Benjamin Ewelu, in his welcome address thanked Obi for his revolutionary imprint still visible in every part of the state.
He commended Obi for what he did for the construction of road to the school, tackling the menace of erosion and some of the infrastructure he helped to provide for the school when he was the Governor.
One of the students, Ugwu Christian said, “The encounter was spiritual, political, economic and social awareness.”
