A renowned Nigerian author, Captain, (Dr.) Elechi Amadi, said for Africans to get the paradise of their dream of maintaining the true value of black man, they should eliminate corruption, avoid inferiority complex, materialism and enthrone hard work, political will and honestly.
Speaking at a ceremony ‘Pride of Africa’, with Esther Victhur, a mental revolutionary talk-show focused on celebrating African excellence, “The True Values of the Black Man”, at Chenice Garden Hotel, Rumumasi, Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State, Dr. Amadi described corruption as the greatest enemy of Nigeria which he noted has bedeviled all sectors of development including education.
According to him, most African leaders especially Nigerians are after materialism, stealing, and opening accounts in foreign countries thereby heaping money for others to reap, adding that Nigerian leaders made money overnight by stealing from funds meant for the development and improvement of their people’s welfare.
The renowned author recalled when he was the Rivers State Commissioner for Education and later Commissioner for Land in the 90s, said he was unable to pay his children’s school fees nor maintain his car after leaving office, a situation some persons cannot take but rather regard as ridiculous.
He advised that Nigerian leaders should not see government money as their own but as public fund meant for the development of the LGAs, state and their countries.
The Rivers State Chairman of Scholarship Board maintained that Nigerians have the capacity to work hard but have the problem of reviving their potentials, stressing the need for Nigerians to put hard work into practice and be honest.
On the true value of the Blackman, Captain Amadi noted that man originated from Africa according to the scientific point of view and moved to other parts of the world such as Europe, Asia, America to settle, adding that civilization started in Africa before it got to other parts of the world.
He advised Nigerians not to see themselves as inferior to the white man but as superior, because they can do better than them and should develop the political will to manufacture machines, avoid corruption, materialism, inculcate hard work and honesty to achieve their desire.
In his contribution, Mr. Godwin D. Gbarabe, a management consultant and the author of a book “Nigeria the seat of world Power” and “The Spirit of Ken Saro Wiwa’, recalled how African Cultures like songs, dances, among others were valued in the past until the coming of the white men who changed our culture, stressing that African culture has no value again because the white men have told us that our cultures are not good.
Mr. Gbarabe further pointed out that things are getting bad in Nigeria especially in leadership, recalling how the last 2011 elections were characterized by malpractices, accept the presidential election that was free and fair and advised Nigerians to rise up to the challenges.
According to him, “for us to achieve our desire there must be a total transformation, we must get our politics right, our leaders should be honest, there should be need for some of us who were sent on scholarship abroad to come back and be employed by companies established by the state and not to look for work in NNPC or Shell”.
Continuing, he said, “for Nigerians to key into the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan they must transform themselves and develop their talents so as to be self employed”.
In a chat with journalists, Esther Vikthur, the presenter of the talk-show, disclosed that her show focused on African society which was highly valued in the past but presently because of the value placed on money, “most Blackmen sell themselves for piece of chalks.”
The presenter said she started the show three years ago and that it was all about transforming the economy and the culture of the Blackman, “the true value of black man” and urged Nigerian to always have a positive mind set towards Nigerian development because the country belongs to all of us. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
