Nigerian Leaders Are Visionless

Retired archbishop of Lagos His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie has expressed grave worry on the quality of leaders in the country. They are visionless and have therefore failed the country, he said.

 The versatile clergyman, who spoke at the installation of Most Reverend Alfred Adewale Martins as the new archbishop of Lagos, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, blamed the country’s underdevelopment on visionless leaders who, he said, failed to take corrections.

 The vocal priest said: “By my handing over I have bowed out of the office as the archbishop of the Lagos Archdiocese and I give God the glory who kept me on in the Lagos metropolis as the Archbishop for 39 years. ‘‘Although government has come and gone in the country, both military and civilian, most of them did not have the interest of Nigeria or Nigerians at heart .

 They were in power to sustain their own personal agenda and their activities revolved around their own narrow circle of friends and appropriations outside government. “ As a result, we were constrained on a number of occasions to be on the side of the oppressed and longsuffering Nigerians. Our interventions were misconstrued as confrontational by those in authority.

 We were not confrontational, we only wanted to tell those in authority to deliver good governance”. In his goodwill message read by the coordinating priest, the Lagos State governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said: ‘‘We formally welcome Alfred Adewale Martins to Lagos and applaud his elevation to this esteemed position. We have seen a long period of steady growth and development in the archdiocese of Lagos. 

Continue to grow from strength to strength and from glory to glory.” In his response, the new archbishop His Grace Most Reverend Martins said though the shoes of his predecessor who ordained him as a priest were too large to step into, he would try to live above board in the discharge of his duties . 

 Born on June 1, 1959, in Abeokuta to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Obasola Martins , he had his primary education at St. Augustine Catholic Mission School , Itesi, Abeokuta, before proceeding to St. Theresa Minor Seminary , Oke-Are , Ibadan, for his secondary education from 1971 -1976. 

 He holds a diploma in Religious Studies from the University of Ibadan, a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Pontifical Urban University, Rome , a master’s degree from the University of Ibadan and a second master’s of letter’s degree in Philosophy , University of St. 

Andrews , Scotland. As the bishop of Abeokuta, he was reputed to have grown the diocese from nine parishes to over 30 parishes, even as he established new hospitals, health centres and Catholic educational institutions both primary and secondary schools. 

The ceremony was graced by eminent dignitaries which included the Lagos State governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola , Minister of power Professor Barth Nnaji (who represented President Goodluck Jonathan), traditional rulers and clergymen from various denominations. 

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