Queen Elizabeth II gave integrity to leadership – Don

Dr Uwaoma Uche, an Associate Professor of Mass Communication, has eulogised the late British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, as one that gave integrity to leadership as the Head of the Commonwealth.

Uche is the Dean, College of Social and Management Sciences, Gregory University, Uturu in Abia.

His reaction to the death of the 96-year-old is contained in a statement he made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Saturday.

He stated: “Queen Elizabeth II gave integrity to leadership and exemplified dignity in carriage and conduct of protocols of a responsible and responsive leadership.

“Her essence of diplomacy at local and international sphere was distinct and indispensable in the world political arithmetics.”
Uche further described the Queen as: “A dotted family woman and dress essence exemplified.”

Also, Prof. Ifeanyichukwu Abada of the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said that the Queen would essentially be remembered for her role in Nigeria gaining independence on Oct. 1, 1960.

Abada recalled in an interview with NAN in Abakaliki that it was during her reign that the British Parliament enacted an Act that gave the country her independence.

The former Head of Department said: “Nigerians will continue to remember her for granting the country freedom from her country (Britain) that colonised Nigeria.

“If she did not approve it, who knows what could have happened to the country?

“It was not only Nigeria that she granted independent but other African countries colonised by Britain.”

The don said that it was unfortunate that successive Nigerian political leaders “did not follow the good leadership footsteps of Britain.

“If our leaders had followed the good examples of our colonial masters in managing our human and material resources, we would not have had this level of poverty and security challenges in the country,” Abada said.

He prayed God to grant the Queen’s soul eternal rest, “having used her life on earth to render selfless service to mankind”.
Others, who also spoke glowingly about the life and legacies of the British longest-serving mornarch, described her as “an instrument for global peace”.

An Abakaliki-based social critic, Mr Maxwell Udenta, described the Queen as “an ambassador of global peace”.

Udenta said that the deceased stood for peace across the world, mediated and preached for peace during many global crises, and also touched lives positively.

According to him, the death of the Queen has created a vacuum.

He said that under her leadership, nations of the Commonwealth enjoyed robust bilateral relations and coordination.

Udenta said that the friendly bilateral relations between Nigeria and Britain yielded many mutual agreements, including the repatriation of some stolen wealth and monuments from Nigeria.

He also said that during her reign, many Nigerian military personnel was trained by the British Army.

Another public affairs analyst in Abakaliki, Mr Micheal Eweru, said that the British economy, which has remained strong among the nations of the Commonwealth, could be ascribed to the Queen’s support and coordination.

“Hopefully, her son and successor, Charles lll, will do better,” Eweru said.

NAN reports that Charles III formally ascended to the throne on Friday at the age of 73.

He succeeded his mother, who was on the throne for 70 years and died on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 96.