The chairman, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has unraveled the reason behind Nigeria’s current economic woes.
Professor Okonkwo stated this in an interview with Vanguard. He advised politicians to work with bright minds before implementing their policies, noting that the disregard for education and intellectual issues keep the country fumbling.
The political class cannot separate itself from the intellectuals. You must have some people somewhere who do the thinking, and then the politicians, working with bright minds, can then implement. Because of the disregard for education and intellectual issues, we keep fumbling as a nation”, Obiora submitted.
Prof. Obiora Okonkwo an Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR, is a professor of business studies at the University of Abuja Business School as well as a visiting professor of entrepreneurial studies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Business School, Awka, Anambra State.
He is the Chairman of The Dome Entertainment Limited, the prime entertainment hub in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
A Russian-trained academic cum business mogul, Prof. Okonkwo is also the spokesman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), the umbrella pressure group of the major operators in the airline industry which has been at the forefront of pushing for seamless operations of the sector as the fulcrum of the economic growth of Nigeria.
On the marginalization of the Igbos, Prof Okonkwo noted that the unity of Nigeria can be achieved based on equity, justice, and fairness.
He said: “The counterpoise would seem to suggest that the Igbos have been doing something wrong all along. Yes, we may not have been calculating well politically; we may not have been getting it all right. But the fact of the matter is that if this is our thing and you accept that I am part of it, you have to be equitable in the process of sharing.
“So, the blame should go to those sharing and deliberately depriving that other person. Igbos are everywhere, and they are working hard, but they are being marginalised. Even the constitutional appointments are given to those who are not true representatives in terms of choice.
“The people who share must be fair. When you favour others more, you should expect people who are being deprived to complain. One of the things being done to weaken people is to deprive them of their rights.
Culled from Vanguard