By; EDEM DARLINGTON, Calabar
The Blue Coalition, a leadership and mentoring initiative to groom young people into governance has been launched in Calabar, Cross River State.
Initiator of the project, John Etim Bassey said the initiative was to identify people with the right character and leadership traits and support them into any political office they aspire as well as mentor young people and challenge them to taking up leadership positions in the state and country.
Mr. Etim said having gathered over 20 years experience in leadership position his dissatisfaction with the leadership gaps in the state and nation triggered his desire to initiate the programme.
He said “the blue coalition therefore is stepping in to bridge the leadership and governance gap that has held our dear nation and its states to ground for so long. Its about time men and women with capacity, competence and character step up to the plate to offer solutions that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians for credible leadership”
Earlier, the keynote speaker at the event, senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw described as pathetic the level of sycophancy by Nigerians as one of the factors militating against political development in the country.
Senator Hensahw who is also the immediate past board chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) decried the level and manner in which assembly members at all level go about their empowerment programs. He said when he became a senator, he decided that the way he will assist people was going to be on his terms.
“A situation where people buy second hand cars, motor-bikes etc for their constituents all in the name of empowerment is totally wrong. And that is why when I became a senator I decided that the way I will go about assisting people was gong to be on my own terms. Leadership is about responsibility not the desire for power”
