KWENU! Our culture, our future

“Kalu: President-in-waiting”? O di egwu!

Carlisle U. O. Umunnah

New York City, New York, USA

cuu1_liberties@yahoo.com

Monday, February 13, 2006

Nigeria is disturbingly a frontier where anything goes. It is a society where criminals are either gate-keeping criminals or they are scaring each other with multiplier-force threats, assassinations, and disappearances. It is a society where accounting for fraud is a user-friendly, laden with massive misappropriations of national, state, and local government funds. As if that is not enough, stolen wealth in turn is celebrated and no questions asked.

Otherwise, where in this world would someone that lacks credibility such as Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, after destroying Aba-Ngwa -- a commercial nerve center -- due to lack of vision and leadership, dream of the Nigerian presidency? It is only in a mediocre political landscape called Nigeria. Governor Kalu is beating his chest, parroting with both sides of his month that he will become the next president of Nigeria. As if that is not enough, he has decided to call up his delusional followers from time to time for support. He is also telling some in some quarters to mark his word. Kalu said that come 2007, he would become the next president of a country called Nigeria.

Let there be no misunderstanding here as this writer respects the views of Dr. M. O. Ené. Dr. Ené’s views as an individual, a scholar, a former Biafran hero, and more are indeed respected. Even so, Ené’s participation in past actions alongside my uncle, Caleb Sunday Umunnah, former DSP of Police HQ Obalende Ikoyi, Lagos, in the 60s in defense of the Igbo nation, Igbo freedom, family, and liberty cannot be overemphasized. Be that as it may, however, I take issue with some of Ené’s remarks in his article published at Kwenu.com titled: “Kalu: President-in-waiting.” Inasmuch as we agree that it is called press freedom, freedom of expression, and or academic freedom, it is important that individuals do thorough research on credibility and authenticity of individuals who parade themselves for public office rather than based commentaries on friendships or “there is no other persons running for the presidency” conceptualization. It will be disservice and in fact further degradation of the already failed state.

First of all, let it be said that Governor Kalu, in this writer’s view, does not meet the mark. This is because Kalu has refused to show leadership and responsibility in Abia State as its Chief Executive. He rather seems to have occupied space, picking fights here and there, especially with Aba-Ngwaland, regardless of Deputy Governor Nwafor of Abia State. He has refused to show leadership and responsibility as expressed in massive waterlog along Ama Ikonne, which remains unattended. Readers, please note that Ama Ikonne is home to His Royal Highness Eze Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba. He has refused to show leadership and respect to Ndi-Abia State, particularly with the mountainous trash dumps in Aba-Ngwa, which exacerbated under Governor Kalu’s watch. The deteriorating trash milieu calls for a rethinking as the situation has grown even worse since he became Governor of Abia State.

Maazi Uche Nwaorah effectively displayed this dump in his report after he visited Enyimba City not long ago. His article, which he backed up with snapshots of rubbish dumps across that great city, was overwhelming for me because I attended my high school in that great city. Adding injury to insults, Kalu was caught making insulting remarks about Ngwaland, its peoples, and others in one of his secret meetings with his cronies. According to sources, it was reported that he, Orji Uzor Kalu, remarked: “No Ngwa man can write a check of 500 million naira.” However, Kalu forgot that the great nation of Ngwaland trained and raised him; thusly, its people do not take insults for thank you. Ngwaland has shown hospitality, leadership, and responsibility to visitors -- as its primordial development launched opportunity for its success. Ngwaland and its peoples were and still are a strong heartland of Ndiigbo in the prewar and post-Biafra War eras.  

In 1929, Aba-Ngwa women revolution showcased its strengths effectively and depicted its capacity as a fundamental technical base for mobilization. Through this mechanism, it expelled British imperialism from its soil. In 1967-70, that courage was manifested yet again during the unfortunate Nigeria-Biafra War as aforementioned. It mobilized its intelligentsias and numerical positioning -- being the largest Igbo clan occupying the greater Igbo plate; that made it possible to launch swift rapid reinforcement that facilitated the speedy liberation of Owerri sector. As it were, Owerri sector fell twice to the enemy forces. Kalu should go and read the history of Ngwaland and stop his irresponsible acts against Ndi-Abia State and Ndi-Ngwa in particular.

One is prompted to facilitate inquiries: For example, what has Kalu done for Ndi-Abia that gives him confidence and credibility to run for the office of the presidency? Is it not delusional to think that Kalu who cannot run a local government, let alone Abia State, can administer the Nigerian state?  Point at one thing Kalu has accomplished in Abia State. Obviously nothing!

This is a man who lacks credibility, who cannot even be trusted with anything; here is a character that talks from both sides of his month and uses God’s name in vain, as security. Nigerians have had enough of Obasanjo and would prefer an effective productive leadership with watertight credibility other than Kalu.

Not long ago, Kalu granted an interview to Mr. Omoyele Sowore from his Maryland home. In that interview, Governor Kalu reportedly made sweeping remarks including allegations that President Obasanjo is a killer and that Obasanjo was trying to kill him and others. Curiously, when Kalu got back to Nigeria and the aforementioned conversation was published in national newspapers, Governor Kalu quickly recanted and denied knowing who Mr. Sowore was, let alone granting him an interview.

In another instance, Governor Kalu also published an open letter in national newspapers alleging that Obasanjo was plotting to kill him and others—through his henchman, Chief Tony Anenih—“Mr. Find fix and finish [FFF].” Governor Kalu later, again, recanted his letter and remarks and later wrote an apology letter to President Obasanjo. Orji Uzor Kalu allegedly claimed to have bankrolled Obasanjo’s 2003 rigged elections but came short when he was called upon to present evidence or produce proof of these claims. At some point, someday, truth will surely swallow lies and fraud and heal the suffering of our peoples. Evidently, it is clear that Nigerians, Ndi-Abia, and Igboland are sick and tired of individuals with no credibility leading her into doldrums. Moreover, the question is: If Kalu failed in Abia State, what gives anybody confidence that this same individual can today lead a society awash with multi-ethnicity and the multidimensional complexities found in Nigeria?

This writer empathizes with Ené. First, Ené does not have all the information, neither does he understand the political space of Abia State, especially when comparatively placed side-by-side with the Coal City, Enugu State, home to Ené. Inasmuch as individuals are at liberty and free to share their visions and views, it is also important to encourage these thinkers, individuals, and others to leave Abia politics alone for Ndi-Abia until they hopefully and thorough gain better insights and acquaint themselves with its fiefdom. I premised heretofore that one should be informed that Governor Kalu has failed woefully in Abia State; thence, it will be impossible that he can administer well the larger political space such as Nigeria. It is a truism that Igboland should produce the next president of Nigeria, but Nigeria and Ndiigbo do not need another multinational -- IMF and World Bank --  idolizer like Kalu for another lengthy space of time. Western worshippers immersed in anti-people policies and prepackaged programs will do no good for greater Nigerians.

I asked before, and I ask again: Can someone point at one thing Kalu has done for Ndi-Abia other than that he assisted to mend the rift between Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, which is humbly appreciated! Even going by that, why is it that Kalu is having a hard time mending fences with Aba-Ngwa and Ndi-Abia as a whole? Yes, he brought the likes of Alhaji Ibrahim Babangida and Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari and what not. What a great accomplishment! However, it is erroneous to think of the transformability of such conceptualized, axiomatic reconciliation by Kalu to Abuja as feasible. The assumptions that such will translate into national reconciliations and development are purely delusional to say the least. If Governor Kalu in his own state -- Abia -- cannot reconcile himself with Ngwaland and its people, cannot reconcile himself with Igbere and Abiriba peoples, what made anyone think that Kalu can reconcile Nigerians with its multifaceted, multiethnic conflicts?

In short, Kalu’s pretension is a replica of Obasanjo’s nationalism. It is no longer news that Obasanjo, for many years, was busy running around Western world bettering their tourism industry; making headlines about peace and security at the African Union [AU] as its Chairman; and making headlines about peace and security in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan, and claiming international statesmanship -- a stolen legacy of General Malu’s accomplishments in these places, which he now makes his own. We have seen that the reverse is the case in the homeland. This hypocrisy is manifested by the destruction of Odi-oma, Ijawland and the whole of Niger Delta and other nations within Nigeria -- all under Obasanjo’s orders. For me, this is the highest hypocrisy of the 21^st century. Just recently, we have seen Oyo State descend into lawlessness, lawlessness that is Obasanjo’s creation through his mentor—Adedibu: “The Garrison Commander of Ibadan,” as Dr. Abati would want us to believe. Obasanjo’s silence when it comes to Oyo State crisis speaks volumes. What Obasanjo did do, though, was his shameless act of worshipping Adedibu six times—while, the greater people of Oyo State were left in the limbo of a political impasse with a discredited and illegitimate government headed by discredited Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, the former deputy governor.

Let’s return to Kalu’s failings. Governor Kalu on his recent visit to the United States via London made one of his usual remarks about multinational corporations in Nigeria when Dr. Ené in a phone conversation asked him about the Niger Delta crisis. His response according to Ené: “'Oh no, we have moved beyond that; the matter will be resolved amicably.' He had assured the oil companies that Nigeria is not a terrorist state, that the unfortunate incident should not discourage them.”

But what Ené forgot to ask in his phone conversation with Kalu was, what are the remedies for eliminating atrocious acts of multinationals and other corporate entities that have taken over our lands, murdered, and continue to murder our peoples every other day. Yes, these multinational oil companies have, through oil-spillage, carbon-dioxide emissions, and contamination of our waterways, degraded and devastated our ecology and reduced our people to endangered species. Therefore, the deprivation and degradations of the masses cannot be dismissed by mere wishes. What Ené could have asked in his conversation is: What can be done to save our peoples, protect our peoples from these ecological criminality against homeland across the land. It is unfortunate that a scholar like Dr. Ené will descend to this level of praise singing of an individual who cannot even run a state to become his “President-in-waiting.”

With all due respect to Dr. Ené, this writer is really disappointed in the praise singing of a character like Kalu. What is wrong with Dr. Ené running for the president of Nigeria rather than praise singing for Kalu?  How about Ené projecting Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, a better qualified personality who has the credibility and an incredible record of accomplishments? I thought the good book says that charity begins at home, or is that not applicable to Nigeria?

Wonders shall never end, indeed. One wonders whether this is a manifestation of what is to come or a turning point or rather prophecies that is about to be fulfilled in the homeland, and in other lands. Paraphrasing, God said in the scriptures that he would use the mundane things of this world to confound the intelligence of the powerful and great ones. I do not want to be dragged into conservatism of the Republican Party-led government under President George W. Bush of the United States. The political theater of America speaks for itself and needs no explanation of its leadership failings and successes. The fact that there are dirty politicians does not mean that we do not have credible individuals to lead Nigeria. Again in my view, Nnamani is polished and can steer the affairs of Nigeria in a pretty respectable way with good governance agenda, good practices.

Dr. Ené stated further:

“The other day, I asked someone about it. He told me pointblank that politicians are dirty! Okay, the last time I checked, we were not electing a pope; we just need someone who wants to be president, who has the means, and who would work at becoming president by any means possible. Interestingly, there is no other serious and open contender to the Aso throne. IBB is bidding his time, hoping that Obasanjo would hand over the party keys. Buhari is still on the 2003 legalities; he knows PDP has the power. Marwa's chicken is cooked; he can now forget all about 2007 and hold on to his Al Barka Air. Atiku is busy surviving; the worst he can do now is to start a fight he would lose in round one! Besides Enugu’s Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, who would probably hang his political stethoscope for his medical stethoscope next year, and Zamfara’s Sharia governor, whom no one is taking seriously even in ANPP, the other governors are busy trying to survive.”

There is no point mixing apples and oranges. There are good Nigerians, who would like to assist Nigeria but have refused to join issues with them, would not lick anybody’s back. In fact, it is an overstatement to assume that there are no presidential candidates out there campaigning for elections. If the reverse is the case, it is Obasanjo’s creation and his alleged third-term bid. I agree with Dr. Ené that in 2006 not even a single candidate is seriously campaigning or coming forward with their manifestoes and what they will do for Nigeria, except Kalu. Meanwhile, the election is just some months away. It is a shame! The fact is that Obasanjo is yet to open the political space, and Nigerians allowed him to play politics with their future. Obasanjo uses EFCC to do his dirty job. This scapegoat methodology as adopted by EFCC has discredited this body. Regardless of the challenges and constraints of EFCC, the agency, for the most part, is haunting political opponents and disposable party members.

Let us return to Kalu’s idiosyncrasies: It is agreeable that Kalu is the most vocal individual running for the presidency, while the rest are either hiding or contemplating on doing so perhaps in 2007 after the electoral results are out. Be that as it may, that does not make this man a presidential material. Readers, note that any projection and protection of foreign multinationals in Nigeria that are not commensurately measured in like manner to the protection and projection of the sanctity of lives of our people, in my view, are a crime against humanity.  Below is another disturbing remark accredited to Kalu’s credibility and credentials all in Nigeria:

“Do you get what I am sensing? The man is already talking presidential. It is no longer about Abia State; it is now about Nigeria and foreign policy issues, just like a credible candidate for the presidency -- the only one running in the ruling and winning party. So I forced the question directly: “Do you really believe that you will be the President of Nigeria in 2007?” “God has willed it and no one can stop me. I don’t know how, but it will happen; you mark today’s date.” Marked!”

Finally, I do not see anything particularly surprising or intriguing about Kalu in his quest to lead Nigeria. However, what I do see is a man who is running away from his responsibilities in Abia State, as narrated above, dehydrated by other colossal failings so far presented in this article. Kalu has failed in Abia State. It is unfortunate that Kalu is curiously trying his chance in a country run by chance rather than ethics and character.

It is only a question of time, this distraction and diversion will be unmasked for all to see. My thing is that hunger, privation, and illiteracy have reduced our peoples to penury. The earlier we change that with responsible, people-oriented leadership the better for her. Otherwise, how can individuals without agenda, who lack business ethics, lead the homeland to continuous ruinations? This writer wishes Kalu and his followers luck in his quest to become the president of Nigeria. “Kalu: President-in-waiting”? O di egwu—it does not stop to amaze me.

What’s up with Nigeria!

In this writer’s view, rather than waste efforts, time and money trying to market an unmarketable Governor Kalu, it is significant that we mold our efforts, concentrate on a capable man. A man that has credibility, incredible track record: Ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani—the Governor of Enugu-State. If not, not only will backwardness be our portion, not only will it be a time well-wasted, but obviously a congealed circle of mediocrity infinitum.

Carlisle U.O. Umunnah is New York-based freelance writer

See also:

www.kwenu.com: Simply surprise yourself yonder!