BY BENSON OKOBI-ALLANAH
AS Engr. Josy Ikpoikpo Nwanisike speaks to you over issues that bother on the nation, one thing that refuses to be concealed in him despite concerted efforts made to control it, is his charged up approach responding to such issues inspired by what he called the great disappointment from many of our politicians in leadership positions today.
To him, many of our politicians today, like some manning our traditional institutions and other spheres of duties that call for responsibilities, are not helping in any way to help reshape the fortune of the nation for good.
Hear him: ‘we have to shake vigorously our weakening zeal for patriotism back to life, the dimming coal, stoked to charging sparks if we must forge ahead developmentally.’’ He said.
He says what most of our leaders whether in politics or traditional settings are after is not how to help find solution to our already bastardized economy but how to further cause its depreciation provided they have accumulated enough wealth for themselves and their families. According to him, all these anomalies being experienced today as they relate to the bad economy, insecurity, kidnapping and other crises that have erupted in the country, are all traceable to bad leadership arising from not only in politics but in other spheres of life, including some traditional rulers who prefer surrounding himself with miscreants masquerading as chiefs only interested in what they will gain, and not what to do to up the ante of development of their communities, and very ready to sell out what is meant for the development of the community to other willing communities.
He said the kill and divide tendencies among some of our politicians, and some of our traditional leaders and others in leadership positions had helped to heighten the lackadaisical approach to development of the nation and communities by our so-called leaders and rulers.
Engr. Josy Ikpoikpo Nwanisike who is the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Gladiosek Engineering Company Limited, a firm into construction of roads, and other businesses, said the country called Nigeria would have witnessed rapid development if our leaders and traditional rulers had been doing things accordingly, saying that constant mention of traditional rulers in a matter that chiefly concerns politicians was as a result of their hobnobbing and romance with politicians who use some of them to achieve their selfish aims by enticing them with money to help gather their subjects to vote for them in elections even when they don’t deserve to be elected or appointed into any office.
The Asaba/Nnewi-based businessman said a country as rich and blessed as Nigeria ought not to have majority of her people suffering in all spheres of life if our leaders were genuine in rendering the needed services to the country and its people.
He pointed out that the reason why most governments (whether before or now) failed the masses, and seen as the architect of the various misfortunes that ravaged, and still ravaging the country and her people, is borne out of the fact that most leaders are always interested in what goes into their pockets, roads constructed without drainages, poorly constructed roads with enough layers, awarding contracts to ill-equipped and naive contractors, issues of kick-backs, politicizing virtually everything that calls for professional handling, inflating budgets and pilfering from it, use of inferior materials in construction, starting work at the wrong time, and dealing with failed contractors, lamenting seriously that kill and divide syndrome had actually done great harm to the economy, progress and development of Nigeria.
He says because certain persons are benefiting from importation of fuel, refineries that would have put an end to such importation are left dormant, thus depriving the country huge sums of money that would have translated to meaningful development.
‘Our leaders have not shown that they are ready to help those who they are leading. Why money meant for development would be used by few individuals because they are in power? People meant to protect and project the economy unfortunately, are the ones helping to ruin it. Until they stop rubbishing the image of the country, we will not stop talking. Whether they are ready to listen or not, that is not my business, and the business of those concerned Nigeria’s interested in the development of the country.’ He stated.
