Stakeholders call for new visionary and transformational leaders

Eminent scholars, traditional rulers, legislators, leaders of thought and representatives from the six historical Niger Delta states (South-South geopolitical zone), namely Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED states) have called for the emergence of a new crop of visionary and transformational leaders.

While re-emphasising the historical definition of the Niger Delta to comprise the BRACED states, as against the current mix up of oil-producing states (OMPADEC) with Niger Delta region, urged collaboration between the political leaders and their constituents in the BRACED states.

In a communiqué at the end of a one-day round-table conference on Thursday, August 10 at the Azaiki Foundation and Public Library Conference Hall, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, organised by the Azaiki Foundation and chaired by Prof Francis Sikoki of the University of Port Harcourt, with the theme, ‘Niger-Delta: The Way Forward in a New Nigeria,’ the participants urged the leaders and peoples of the Niger Delta states to collaborate in forging a common position for the actualisation of a New Nigeria.

The conference, attended by President of the Foundation, Prof Steve Azaiki, Chief Thompson K. Okorotie, who was the Lead Speaker, among others, with goodwill messages King Okpoitari Diongoli, Ambassador Godknows Igali and Prof Ayebaemi Spiff, discussed such issues as definition of the Niger Delta, effective leadership, negotiation of the lopsided Nigerian federation, good governance, collaboration and networking among the leaders and peoples in the BRACED states and beyond and emergence of new crop of leaders.