Obasanjo Is Nigeria’s Worst Leader –uzor Kalu

The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, on Tuesday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo remained the worst leader Nigeria had had since its independence in 1960. Kalu spoke at an annual lecture organised by the Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He presented the keynote address, entitled ‘Youth Empowerment and Good Governance: Veritable Tools for Economic Development’. The former Abia State governor said the closure of Hallmark Bank, where he (Kalu) had significant stake and Slok Air, were efforts deployed by Obasanjo to deal with him. He said the former President’s action against Hallmark Bank and Slok Air slowed down the employment opportunities he (Kalu) would have created for Nigerians. Kalu, however, enjoined the federal and state governments to initiate entrepreneurship programmes that would help achieve economic development. The former governor said to achieve meaningful development, governments at all levels must empower the youths. He observed that economic development was a major criterion for national development. ”If there is no economic stability in the world, there will be no political stability,” Kalu said. He added, ”Economic development can only be possible when youth empowerment and good governance are firmly rooted, and the true measure of good governance is the ability of a government to realise people’s human rights and deliver sustainable and equitable development. ”As long as there is corruption, economic development may remain a mirage. There is great need for all of us, especially the government to work hard and work together to eliminate poverty. ”I urge the federal and state governments to make good use of the potentials found in the economic departments in our country because it is the department that should be the centre of research for government at various levels.”