Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has bagged a distinguished Gold Prize in Exceptional Leadership.
Wike received the award in Abuja moments ago from This Nigeria newspaper at the Yar Ardua Conference Centre.
Receiving the award, Governor Wike urged the management of This Nigeria newspaper and the Nigerian press to tell the truth always.
He said there was no reason to see truth as controversy and reiterated that the VAT fight was predicated on the need to defend constitutional provisions.
Wike said that Nigeria is replete with acts of injustice, insisting that the time has come to speak to the real issues militating against national cohesion.
Earlier, Governor Kayode, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum acknowledged that although Nigeria is a sleeping giant, the process of nation building cannot be achieved within 60 years.
Bishop Mathew Kukah, lead speaker at the occasion identified some of the problems that have made the attainment of a united country impossible.
He specifically pinpointed religion and ethnicity as the bane of the Nigerian society.
Dr Mike Ozekhome, SAN, agreed with Bishop Kukah and wondered why Nigerians are afraid of a referedum
He said that the validity of a constitution is a function of its acceptance by the people.
Comrade Issa Aremu said Nigeria was in need of oxygen in order to ensure its stabilization.
But he noted that Nigerians may have to adapt a new line of communication which would lower ethnic tension, reduce religious differences and the use of hate oriented words.
Governor Wike and other award winners stood together to take snapshots after he performed the unveiling of the This Nigeria newspaper.
Other winners included Professor Mahmud Yakubu who won the Gold Prize in Public Service and Professor Ishak Oloyade of JAMB among others.
Governor Nyesom Wike and other award winners unveil This Nigeria newspaper.