.Hails Catholic bishops, advises students
By Valentine Amanze
Former Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, has commended the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria for significantly drawing the national and global attention to the worsening security situation in Nigeria.
Obi, at the sideline of an International business conference organized by Nigeria, America Business Forum (NABF) in the USA at the weekend said that the peaceful protest by the bishops showed their patriotism and concern for the challenging situation in the country.
In a statement by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem, the former governor charged other critical stakeholders in the country to join the bishops in elevating the insecurity situation in the land for necessary action.
Obi, who was the keynote speaker at the forum, said that what Nigeria desperately needed was investment especially Foreign direct investment to reboot its declining economy and create employment for the teeming unemployed youths.
He however pointed out that no one would be attracted to invest in an unsecured or lawless environment.
He lamented that unemployment situation in the country was so frightening, stressing that any nation that could not engage its teeming educated youths surely would have issues with social vices like crimes and criminalities.
Obi lamented that Ghana, which entire population is less than 20% of Nigeria’s population was attracting more investment and attention than Nigeria with all its abundant capital and material resources.
The former governor of Anambra State revealed that all the attendees he spoke to personally had one or two worries, security/ law and order.
He urged the Nigerian government to aggressively tackle the situation.
The theme of the conference which attracted top Nigeria professionals, entrepreneurs residing in USA, governors, government officials and many others is ‘Improving Nigeria’s Economy: Challenges and Opportunities’.
Meanwhile, the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has commended the members of the National Federation of Catholic students, Federal Government College (Technical), Umunze as well as the members of the chaplaincy on their efforts towards the completion of their church building as well as the planned commencement of the construction of the Rectory.
Through his Special Adviser, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, who represented him, Obi said that though he was yet to meet the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Odika, in person, that he was fond of him for his manifest love for education and burning desire to be part of the much-needed change in the society.
His words: “Though I did not know or rather have not interacted with Fr. Odika, I knew he was inviting me to visit his former school, St. Mary’s Awka. Unfortunately, I could not do so while he was the manager, even when I heard they named one of their houses after me. But surprising two priests, in the course of discussing the progress of education in Anambra State, mentioned the good work Fr. Odika did at St. Mary’s. The discussion was simply enough tonic that inspired me to visit the school, even when Fr. had already left.”
Obi also advised the youth to always strive to leave positive marks by doing the right thing. “If you are a student,” he said, “leave your own mark by exceptional academic performance and high moral standards for your certificates attest both and the sky will be your limit. If you are already working, leave a mark as Fr. Odika left at St. Mary’s and the world will look for you.” Obi, who did not announce his donation, called on all men of goodwill to support the project as part of their spiritual investment.
