Kalu, on Tuesday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo
remained the worst leader Nigeria had had since its independence in 1960. Kalu spoke at an annual lecture
organised by the Department of Economics, University of
Nigeria, Nsukka. He presented the keynote address, entitled
'Youth Empowerment and Good Governance: Veritable
Tools for Economic Development'. The former Abia State
governor said the closure of Hallmark Bank, where he (Kalu)
had significant stake and Slok Air, were efforts deployed by
Obasanjo to deal with him. He said the former President's
action against Hallmark Bank and Slok Air slowed down the
employment opportunities he (Kalu) would have created for
Nigerians. Kalu, however, enjoined the federal and state
governments to initiate entrepreneurship programmes that
would help achieve economic development. The former
governor said to achieve meaningful development,
governments at all levels must empower the youths. He
observed that economic development was a major criterion
for national development. "If there is no economic stability
in the world, there will be no political stability," Kalu said.
He added, "Economic development can only be possible
when youth empowerment and good governance are firmly
rooted, and the true measure of good governance is the
ability of a government to realise people's human rights and
deliver sustainable and equitable development. "As long as
there is corruption, economic development may remain a
mirage. There is great need for all of us, especially the
government to work hard and work together to eliminate
poverty. "I urge the federal and state governments to make
good use of the potentials found in the economic departments
in our country because it is the department that should be the
centre of research for government at various levels."
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