Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, has lauded Nigerian-born Prof. Paschal Okolie, over his insights in proffering solutions on issues plaguing national development plans.
Onaga spoke at the Holy Ghost Catholic Cathedral, Enugu, during a thanksgiving mass and reception on Monday for a successful inaugural lecture by Prof. Okolie, held at the University of America, California, USA, at the weekend.
The bishop noted that men of questionable character should not be allowed into the corridors of power.
Earlier at the weekend in the inaugural lecture, Okolie, who is a Professor of Public Finance and Accounting, in the University of America, California, USA, had identified positive character and integrity as the panacea for the failures of national development plans.
Okolie, who His Holiness, Pope Francis 1, had confered the Papal Honour of Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester (KSS) recently for his dedication and support of the growth of the mother church, said that differences between developed and underdeveloped nations were mainly caused by men of questionable characters who found themselves at the corridor of power.
The lecturer said that men of questionable character used the opportunity given to them to lead to divert public treasury to their private purses.
Okolie, who is also a Visiting Professor at the Spiritan University Nneochi, Abia State, Nigeria, delivered his inaugural lecture “National Development Plans and Public Finance Management: The Role of Leadership Integrity in National Development.”
He further said that organisations, no matter how grounded would be run down if the management is infested with men without integrity.
Okolie also said that part of the roles of leadership in government include prudent management of financial resources of the nation for public good.
He cited Zimbabwe during the tenure of Robert Mugabe, as a country managed by a leader without integrity, adding that there was hyperinflation, poverty and other obnoxious government policies during his reign between 1980 and 2017.
He equally said that there was weakened economy which led to wide spread poverty and infrastructure decay in Nigeria during the tenure of the former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, whose government was notorious for embezzlement of public funds as evidenced by multiple recoveries of looted funds from within and outside Nigeria.
“The hallmarks of national development plan is the outcome. Some countries with failed national development is caused by people who have no character and integrity (sic). If the leaders have character and integrity, it affects the way they view the Issue of public finance and accounting.
“Somebody may become a president of a nation and instead of pursuing the overall interest of the people, he personalises opportunities to his selfish interests either to favour himself, his cronies or his religion,” he said.
In a remark, the guest of honour and Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Professor Polycarp Chigbu, commended Prof. Okolie, for a well-researched and well-delivered lecture.
