Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar has listed what he believes are the leadership qualities anyone seeking to succeed late Chief Odimgwu Ojukwu must possess .Umar , a former governor of Kaduna state in a statement today titled : Contenders and Pretenders to Ndigbo Leadership” said hard work, brilliance ,independence of mind , humility and altruism were the qualities that earned Ojukwu the respect of all and sundry.
In Umar’s words “ Whoever emerges as the Eze Igbo must possess those leadership which earned the late Eze-gbo the loyalty of Ibos worldwide and admiration of most Nigerians- hard work , brilliance ,independence of mind ,charisma ,humility and above all atruism.”
The former governor who had a very warm relationship with Ojukwu said “You cannot succeed the late Eze Igbo by mere lamentation of the marginalization and persecution of Ibos and issuing orders for them to relocate back to their ancestral land.Nor can you succeed by a campaign strategy that seeks to prove how loyal you were to the late Ikemba or resorting to the issuance of flambouyant eulogies of him.
Read Umar’s statement below:
Contenders and Pretenders to Ndigbo Leadership
As the nation mourns the passing of one of its great leaders,Eze Igbo Gburugburu,Chief Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu,the struggle to succeed him has already commenced.It has therefore become necessary to observe that the successor to Eze Igbo Gburugburu,if there is need for one, must earn his position.
You cannot succeed the late Eze Igbo by mere lamentation of the marginalization and persecution of Ibos and issuing orders for them to relocate back to their ancestral land.Nor can you succeed by a campaign strategy that seeks to prove how loyal you were to the late Ikemba or resorting to the issuance of flambouyant eulogies of him.
Whoever emerges as the Eze Igbo must possess those leadership which earned the late Eze gbo the loyalty of Ibos worldwide and admiration of most Nigerians- hardwork ,brilliance ,independence of mind ,charisma ,humility and above all atruism.
Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (Retd)
