Chairman of the National Drugs Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has reiterated his commitment and service to the nation while commending the South East communities over their campaign against drugs abuse.

He did this at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, while receiving the Champion Newspapers Man of the year award, along with the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, who emerged 2021Champion Newspaper Governor of the year.

Former Governor of Kano State and grassroots politician, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, won the Youth Empowerment Icon of the Year; formwer Minister of State, Mines & Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Samson Ogah, won the Minister of the Year award; the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Godwin Ndudi Elumelu, as Lawmaker of the Year and outspoken Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji as Outstanding Speaker of the Year.

Also honoured are: Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu, Outstanding Deputy Speaker of the Year; Zenith Bank Plc, Bank of the Year; NEM Insurance, Insurance Company of the Year; Ismail Omamegbe, Media Manager of the Year, Dr Obi Onwuakpa; Youth Employment Icon of the Year, Chief Bayo Fatusin; Heart of Gold award, Dr Gabriel Ogbechie; Corporate Leader of the Year, and Chief Emeka Agba; Investor of the Year.

Others are: Prince Ned Nwoko; Most outstanding Philanthropist of the Year, Charles Odunukwe; Business Icon of the Year; Mrs. Grace Uredi; Fashion designer of the Year; Wema Bank, Special Product award (Wema Alat); Kcee Limpopo, Entertainment Icon of the Year; HRM Eze Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Most Outstanding Diaspora personality of the Year; Mrs Patience Chima Ebor, Women Wealth Creation and Empowerment Icon of the Year; Princess (Dr.) Folashade Abiodun Omotade, Most Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year; and Mr. Michael Enyinnaya, Investor of the Year.

Speaking at the event, Marwa, who was honoured for his sterling performance over the drug war to address damning effects of drug addiction in the country, noted that drug abuse war must be collectively fought to a standstill.

Expressing his satisfaction for the distinguished award, the former military administrator of Lagos State said that President Muhammadu Buhari should be commended for giving him the support to succeed.

He lamented that in the course to get the country rid of hard drugs, some of agency’s personnel were attacked and lost their lives.

“In the past, some of our communities bust the cartels, some of our men were attacked and some died. Unfortunately, the same men’s families made contributions to bury their fallen heroes.

“But President Muhammadu Buhari came and paid 15 years’ compensations of the arrears. He is number one drug fighter in this country,” he stated.

Lamenting that the high level of drug addiction in the country, Marwa said: “We have in some families where children ask their parents for money for drugs. We should rise up against the abuse, parenting is the key, and communities have to rise up. The communities in the South East are fighting tooth and nail to fight this menace. We saw this effort by the communities in the South East.”

Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, also thanked the management of the company for organizing the award programme.

Zulum, who was honoured as the Governor of the Year, 2021 appreciated the newspaper for the recognition, noting: “We didn’t know that people were watching us.”

Zulum was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof Isah Marte, who stated that the Governor was one of the greatest leaders the country deserved.

He pointed out that before the Zulum administration, the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents were in control of not less than 20 Local governments of the State, saying under the present Governor, the State government had virtually taken over all the local governments.

Former Kano State Governor, Dr Musa Kwakwanso, who was conferred with Youth Empowerment Icon of the Year 2021, recalled his sojourn from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the two parties had failed the people.

He stated that was why he had to join the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), saying: “I had the opportunity to be a member of the PDP since 1998 but we realized what we were passing through and I was part of the formation of APC but at the end of the day, we have seen what happened.”

Kwakwanso, who is one of the presidential hopefuls under the platform of NNPP, said: “I believe NNPP as an option for the status quo. I'm one of those who are not in support of what is happening right now.”

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, said going by the prevalent abuse of drugs in the Nigerian society, those who want to occupy public offices should be tested and certified free of drug abuse before being allowed to contest as advocated by the NDLEA.

According to him, “We have to start testing our politicians for drugs so that if anyone gets to power, they won’t go and be making funny legislations.”

Earlier In her welcome address, the Group Managing Director of the Champion Newspapers, Dr. (Mrs) Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, said: “Considering the state of our dear country today, there is no doubt that there is dearth of committed, honest and focused leaders in our society.

“As we consolidate our democracy and celebrate 22 years of unbroken civilian Government, there is overriding need for us as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to continue to identify and honour those who have effectively utilized every opportunity to lead creditably and render unblemished service at one level or the other for the common good and for the greatest number of our people.

“It is for this reason we have gathered here this evening which is also Champion Newspapers modest way of contributing its quota to the overall development of society by providing a veritable platform to recognize who have excelled both in the private and public sectors of the economy.”

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