Diplomacy, Crucial Device for Leadership, Governance – Obi
Former Governor Peter Obi has asserted that diplomacy remains a very important tool of Governance and Leadership in any society, nation or organisation.
Obi, who attended the inaugural lecture of the Anyaoku Institute for Diplomacy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, congratulated the University authorities on establishing the Institute which, he said, would go a long way in enabling people to learn the art of diplomacy.
Obi explained that diplomacy is not just vital for international relations but also for local governance and leadership, especially in a highly populated and diverse country like Nigeria, where the skills of negotiation and dialogue are needed to bring the different components of the nation together for peace and progress.
“Nigeria’s cohesion and trust are at their lowest level today. In future, effective governance in the country will require specific skills to re-unite and rebuild trust among various parts of Nigeria. Consequently, skillful diplomacy, negotiation, and dialogue become the first assignments of the next incoming Leaders of our country,” Obi said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said Nigeria must first look inwards and prioritise its local relationships by strengthening its political union and economic integration, before considering other international relations.
Present at the event with the Former President were Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the incoming Governor Prof Charles Soludo; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe; Senator Uche Ekwunife; Senator Ben Obi; Chief Simon Okeke; the keynote speaker Prof Akin Idowu Osuntokun, and the host of this great event, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Charles Esimone.
