By Valentine Amanze
The newly consecrated Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Rev Augustine Echema, has called on Nigerians to emulate Mr. Peter Obi, the immediate past governor of Anambra State.
The cleric made the appeal at Christ the King Catholic Church, Aba during his maiden mass as the Bishop of the Diocese yesterday.
The cleric, who revealed that he was always awed by Obi’s simplicity and humility, said that he remained a politician he wished others must emulate in politics.
“Not only his life as a politician, I have observed him closely and can say that he lives good christian life, which is sadly missing among many politicians,” the cleric said.
He was confident that if given the opportunity of service, humanity will benefit from his selflessness and great understanding of leadership and what it entails.
In his remarks, the Papal Nuncio to Trinidad and Tobago, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, thanked Obi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for their faithfulness to the right cause. He said that Obi had remained a reference point for good governance.
Addresing the press after the event, Obi, who was in the company of Abaribe, said that Nigeria was at cross roads due to cumulative years of failed leadership. Besides electing those who understand leadership, Obi also called on Christians to pray to God to soften the hearts of leaders so that they will realize that public money is specifically for public service.
X-raying the state of the nation, Obi described as unacceptable, the level of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria.
He said no leader floated jobs but that jobs were created when good leaders took over and through good policies and commitment expanded the industrial base of the country.