From Okey Sampson, Aba
Eminent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has called for love and unity among the Igbo, saying it is not only the panacea for their political problems, but also the vehicle that will catapult them to the summit of the nation’s political firmament.
Kalu made the call at his Igbere country home in Abia State when a socio-cultural Igbo group, Ogbako Igbo visited him at the weekend.
He regretted that lack of love and unity, coupled with the fact that Igbo leaders are not good politicians, have made them not to speak with voice on matters of national importance that would be beneficial to their people.
“Igbo political leaders are not good politicians. Politics is all about give and take, and the Igbo should wake up politically if they should overcome their problems.
“I laugh when people advocate for an Igbo regional political party; it may not be possible in this generation again. I formed PPA and it had two states, where are they now? And no Igbo has asked what happened.
“Igbo are the architect of their own problem; the leaders should look back and find out what went wrong with the region, politically, if we are to make any headway.”
Kalu said he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) because he had been in the opposition for the past 10 years and the Igbo did not benefit from that, hence, he decided to move to the main stream of Nigerian politics for the good of the Igbo. He urged Ogbako Igbo to give Ohaneze its due respect and warned against doing anything that will work against the interest of the apex Igbo cultural organisation.
Prof. Protus Nathan Uzomah in a paper he presented at the gathering titled, “Role of South East leaders in crime prevention” advocated for a strong leadership if the Igbo nation should make any headway in Nigerian politics.
Uzomah said the greatest challenge Igbo is facing today is what he described as Igbonisation, whereby some Igbo sons and even communities alienate their Igbo origin. He was of the view that power had continued to elude the Igbo nation because the people have refused to come together under one strong political party of their own.
But this was countered by Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu who believed that an Igbo party will not give the region the presidency, stressing, rather, the Igbo should identify strongly with a national party if the goal must be achieved.
Dr. Vitalis Arikaibe Ajumibe, co-ordinator of the group had earlier said that the absence of political unity was the cause of Igbo marginalization in Nigeria, stressing tat the Igbo political class failed to develop their home base.
“Igbo political class should bury personal ambition, come together and work for the over all interest of the region.”
Among members of the group who visited Kalu include, Prfo Konna Anosike, Dr. Obinna Duruji, Rev Fr. Kelechi Hermagualad, Dr. Fabian Ihekweaba, Everest Ezihe, Gele Agbai and Ejimonyeabala Williams of the USA chapter.