By Chukwuemeka Egejuru
The Abia state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu has received the Centre for Peace and Value Re-orientation 2020 “Integrity Stewardship” award.
This, the group said, is in recognition for his display of ethical leadership, Servicom compliance, commitment to Abia state transformation reforms agenda, community peace building and conflict resolution among others.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Centre for Peace and Values Re-Orientation, Comrade Abraham A. Oyibo who explained that the award came on the heels of series of interviews, opinion and online polls among others, maintained that Chief Onyendilefu distinguished himself as a man of proven character with great capacity to deliver, among his colleagues, in public service by providing adequate policy framework in harnessing and developing Abia state Local Government Policy reforms, pointing out that these have enhanced the socio-economic welfare of the citizenry.
Oyibo who further decried the high level of corruption, mal-administration and moral bankruptcy among political/public servants, commended Onyendilefu for being different and committed to the course of the youths, women and most vulnerable in the society.
Responding, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Gabriel Onyendilefu, thanked the group for finding him worthy for the honour, noting, that he was indeed humbled. He promised to continue to render more selfless services to the public.
The Commissioner who was represented by Elder Kennedy Okechukwu Onyenma, charged the group to live lives worthy of emulation by the upcoming generations.
He described lack of ethical standard as the bane of our contemporary society, highlighting that our society, especially the youths, have consequently lost direction due to erosion of ethics and values .
Onyendilefu called for reorientation of the youths, maintaining that most youths are disoriented and needs urgent re-alignment and reorientation of values.
“Moral standards will take you to stardom. You can’t have ethics, if you don’t have values. You can’t have values if you are not disciplined and you can’t be disciplined if you don’t submit to the rules and regulations. Any society without these is heading to disaster if nothing is done”, he added.
He urged them to champion the reorientation of youths, insisting that it is the only way to get to the top.
In his vote of thanks, a senior aide to the Honorable Commissioner, Mr Nkem Akoma, thanked the body for their visit and enjoined them to shun any acts that is inimical to their visions and aspirations.