Initially, I had wondered how I was going to make it to Washington and back early enough to partake in the award night where I was scheduled to make a speech as the publisher. I had toyed with the idea of delegating somebody to represent me at the awards night, but changed my mind when I considered the enormous significance the awards held for our organisation. To make it to Lagos earliest on Thursday – two days to the event – I had to cancel a scheduled trip to Oman, Jordan.
The love of nation has always been the propelling factor for every activity I have ventured into over the years. Most important, I have never missed out on any opportunity to showcase Nigeria and promote its rich investment haven. During my tenure as the governor of Abia State in southeast Nigeria, I was invited to speak at different fora across the globe. The United States ranked number one among the countries where I was invited as a guest speaker, having delivered over 10 papers at different international events. The last one, before the invitation to speak at Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia last week, was the outing at the famous Woodrow Wilson International Conference Centre, Washington, D.C., where I spoke on a range of global issues. The audience that witnessed the Woodrow Wilson Centre speech was a far-cry from the one that gathered at Georgetown University.
I quickly anticipated what was to happen at Georgetown University when I saw the invitation to speak there. The message on the invitation letter captured the global prestige and ivy rating of Georgetown University. I knew right from the onset that it was going to be a memorable outing. And so, I was mentally and psychologically tuned up for the event. As our flight tore the clouds as it made its way to Washington through London Heathrow my thoughts were focused on Georgetown University (GU). This is one university I have heard and read so much about. I asked myself what exactly should be the fulcrum of my message. Each time I asked this question one particular thought occupied my subconscious: speak about the endless opportunities that abound in Nigeria, its rich human and natural resources, its peoples and politics and the biting effects of institutional corruption. I must confess that the feeling I had about the GU outing was different from my one year stint at the prestigious Harvard University, Massachusetts, United States in 1996. It was on the eve of the GU lecture that the suspension of Lamido Sanusi Lamido as governor of Central Bank of Nigeria was announced. The suspension made my heart beat increasingly, even to the point of apprehension. I had feared for our economy, the naira and the Stock Exchange. And true to my fears, the suspension had terrible impact on them. Thank God the situation is gradually easing as investor confidence returns.
Some of my friends who came to Potomac, Maryland, to welcome me had offered diverse opinions about the suspension of Sanusi and other global issues, especially those that affected Nigeria. We talked and bantered into the wee hours of the morning of the following day, with each contributor brimming with confidence about the oncoming outing at Georgetown. One of us, who did his postgraduate programme at Georgetown, told us impressive things about the University – its culture and corporate vision.
The journey from Maryland to Washington D.C. was brief. Our convoy waltzed through the mild traffic of the Dupont Circle area through the World Bank Towers to Georgetown University, which sits on a very expansive area, covering over five-kilometer radius. The student population is as large as the environment on which the university is built. There are different underground train routes into the University community. In short the university is in a world and class of its own.
We were ushered into the huge hall with the audience, comprising lecturers, technocrats, administrators and company executives, fully-seated. I took my seat on the podium and was led to the lectern to deliver my lecture after the exchange of initial pleasantries.
I spoke with such passion as never done before. I espoused the vision of a new Nigeria: the challenges, hopes and aspirations. I spoke about institutional corruption, investment opportunities, the political life of the country and the fears about 2015. In all of these, I maintained unflinching faith in Nigeria. The response of the audience after the lecture, coupled with its likely positive fallouts, was quite electrifying. The reception was simply warm and convivial.
We left GU satisfied and fulfilled, having made new friends and succeeded in straightening a few crooked facts about Nigeria. Back in Potomac, Maryland, it was time to review the success or otherwise of the outing. The consensus was that it was a great day. Those present applauded my straightforwardness, fierce frankness and open-mindedness. For me, it was mission accomplished as I had always looked forward to every opportunity to speak about Nigeria in Washington. I have a few international lectures lined up for me for the year: some will hold in Washington, some in China, others in Dubai and United Kingdom. These do not include the speeches lined up for Nigeria, which will hold at intervals all through the year.
Back in Potomac, it was now time to leave for London en route Lagos for the 11th Edition of the Sun Awards Night. It was quite a hectic journey from London to Lagos. I landed in Lagos in the early hours of Thursday for the event on Saturday, February 22. If it were possible to ask for a shift in date I would have done so, considering the fact that I had to do a long haul from Washington to London, then London to Lagos – all within 24 hours. As the publisher, according to the organizing committee, I must present a welcome speech to the glitterati of personalities expected to grace the occasion.
For the benefit of those not familiar with the Annual Sun Awards, it was instituted in 2003 to reward excellence and achievement. I am glad to report that today it is one of the most credible awards in the country. As I stepped into the venue of the award event it was undoubtedly clear that something great was about to take place. As the guests arrived they did not disappoint with their dress-sense and gait. They epitomized resplendence and panache.
President Goodluck Jonathan was ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. In attendance was also the Honourable Minister of Information and Strategy (who also oversees the Ministry of Defence), Labaran Maku. I thank them for finding the time to grace the event. My friend and former colleague Rabiu Kwankwaso’s arrival evoked a feeling of nostalgia in me. His simplicity, even though he exuded the aroma of fiefdom and imperialness, unnerved me. He has always been like that since his first tenure as Kano State Governor. On the many occasions we met as governor-colleagues during his first journey to Government House Kano he always carried himself with uncommon dignity and candour. His choice as a co-winner of The Sun Man of the Year award was entirely the prerogative of the selection committee. In fact, from every fact on ground, Kwankwaso has surpassed the expectations of even his most acerbic critics. He has transformed Kano into a modern state in less than four years in the saddle as governor. His achievements speak for him.
What of Emmanuel Uduaghan – another The Sun Man of the Year award-winner? As governor he has succeeded in re-writing the chequered history of the oil-rich state of Delta. To attain the present height he had to first contain militancy, which used to thrive with uncontrolled robustness. Gradually, he started reorienting the youths of Delta and teaching them the numerous benefits of meaningful livelihood. Today, Delta is the hub of modern development, with the youths richly empowered. I was glad to see him. Seeing him reminded me of my great friend and former colleague James Onanefe Ibori. He held sway as governor between 1999 and 2007. Before his present ordeal he was highly regarded. Forget about his demonization, he was a wonderful team-player and a visionary leader.
We appreciated the distinguished presence of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and Governor Goodwill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (whose wife was one of the award recepients). It was also enthralling to meet another governor- colleague Donald Duke who served Cross River State from 1999-2007. He still looked trendy and sleek.
I will not fail to pay a special tribute to Chief Senator Edwin Clark, one of the Lifetime award-winners. He has been a father-figure to the present generation. I have had the opportunity to interview him. He exhibited unparalleled intellectualism and depth of mind during the interview, leaving us (the interview team) stupefied. It was nice that the selection committee found him worthy of recognition at this time. I regretted he could not make it physically to the event, but he was ably represented.
There were many other award-winners that space might now allow me to list here. But permit me to mention one more Lifetime award recipient – Bruce Onabrakpeya. His works exemplify his generational fibre and global preeminence. He will be remembered at the end of time, even by future generations.
Though I had appreciated the many men and women that gathered to support us to honour these great Nigerians who have done our nation proud through their exemplary leadership and accomplishments, I cannot fail but thank them one more time for finding time to attend. It is something that calls for gratitude when Nigerians from all walks of life freely assembled at a place to do honour to their fellow citizens. That was what happened last Saturday in Lagos. It was a day to be proud to be a Nigerian. It is important to restate the fact that the Sun Award is given out purely on merit. In fact, the selection committee’s work is thoroughly reviewed to ensure there are no avoidable errors and controversies. This is why the award has never attracted any negative media since it was instituted. And we plan to make it bigger next time round.
Let me use this opportunity to express deep appreciation to many of our readers and advertisers who have stood by us all these years. You have been a pillar of support to us. What we can assure you is continued improvement in the quality of products and services we offer you. In the months ahead, you are going to experience more refreshing news from the numerous tabloids in our stable. It is to achieve this and sustain the vision of the organisation that we had to undertake a major shake-up in our management team two months ago. The whole idea is to make the team more vibrant and result-oriented in line with global realities.
The beautiful thing about the Sun Family is the homogeneity and cohesion that exist among us. Interestingly, the first generation management team of the Sun still works in concert with their successors to drive the vision of the organization and make it maintain its leadership position among its brand contemporaries. Happily too, we have continued to live as one large family – sharing in one another’s pains and joys.
We thank God specially for blessing us with long life and good health. One or two of us involved in untoward circumstances have lived to tell the story. In other places, it would have been tales of woes. We ask God to continue to bless us and our various stakeholders and make our nation a place of justice, love and peace.
Our expansion programme will include another newspaper and a number of other projects that will make us undoubtedly the market leader in Nigeria, if not Africa. It is gratifying to know that our employees are ever committed to their work and are desirous to make the difference through their creativity and acuity.
Gov. Shettima’s frustration
The Governor of Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has incurred the wrath of critics over his comment on the federal government’s fight against the dreaded Islamic Sect, Boko Haram. According to media reports the governor was quoted to have said that the Boko Haram insurgents were better armed than the federal troops deployed in the area to flush out the militants. He was also quoted to have said that the federal government was losing the war against the militant group.
First to fire the salvo was the federal government, which took him to the drycleaners. It described him as a bloody civilian who was naïve and unknowledgeable about how the military operated. It frowned at his temerity and dismissed his utterances as unfounded, alarmist and misleading.
In my opinion, the governor did not commit any sin by expressing how he felt over an issue. Don’t forget he is the governor who has been on ground since the belligerency started. So, he knows the terrains and what obtains therein very well.
What government should have done was to invite him to Aso Rock and allay his fears, instead of joining issues with him in public. Any other person would have reacted the same way, considering the bloodletting that has been the order of the day in the state in recent times, where members of the sect arbitrarily storm any community of their choice and slaughter people with impunity.
As I have always advocated the government must engage the sect in meaningful dialogue to resolve the impasse. Using guns, armoured cars and ferrets against the sect will only exacerbate the militancy and lead to more loss of innocent lives.
Dialogue remains the best way out, if you ask me.
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