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Africa: Greed of Leaders, Military, Bane of Africa's Development-Gowon
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Vanguard (Lagos)
7 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Emma Iriogbe
Lagos
FORMER Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (RTD) has come hard on present and past African leaders especially the military saying that their greed kept the continent from developing, several decades after political independence.
Speaking yesterday at the formal launching of the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development in Abuja, Gen. Gowon blamed inept leadership for the untold hardship Africans have had to put up with in their daily existence.
His words, "at the heart of Africa's problems lies the key issue of leadership and governance, particularly the lack of committed and selfless political leaders on the African continent, is largely responsible for the slow pace of development and growth".
He regretted that Africa had become synonymous with wars, inter-tribal and inter-ethnic rivalry among other woes the people experience daily and that the people were getting impatient with the harrowing state of affairs and that the people had lost hope of better quality life expected after independence.
"Africa has become synonymous with wars, inter-tribal and inter-ethnic rivalry, poverty, famine, hunger and diseases. Infact, the pervasive atmosphere of hope at independence in these states has all but fizzled out.
"While the continent continues to be ravaged by wars, hunger and diseases, our leaders continue to engage themselves in endless, yet futile battles for supremacy in greed and destruction.
"We in Africa and indeed Nigeria have continued to witness a growing discontent by our citizens at the harrowing state of affairs in almost all countries on the continent", he said.
He concluded by charging African leaders, on the need to provide a more virile atmosphere for development for the general well being of people on the continent.
"It is gladdening to note that our elites are all agreed that the leadership question must preoccupy our time, energy and resources. We have seen the nexus between good leadership, good governance and sustainable development for our continent.
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The challenge before us today is a resolve that our continent and our people deserve better. We must leave here with a renewed spirit and determination to challenge our leaders to act for the benefit of our people."
The FCT Minister, Dr. Umar Modibbo, represented President Umaru Yar'Adua as Special Guest of Honour at the event which was attended by five former Heads of State. They included Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen.Abdusalam Abubakar (rtd), Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), Gen.Yakubu Gowon who was Chairman of the occasion and Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings of Ghana who delivered the keynote address.
Other dignitories at the event included Vanguard's Publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka; former President of Senate, Chief Pius Anyiml; Former Speaker House of Reps, Alh. Ghali Umar Na'aba; governors of Anambra and Bauchi states, Chief Tony Anenih, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Traditional rulers amongst others.
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