• Bishop pleads with ex-governor to forgive estranged allies
Eminent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Kalu, has urged Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to run an all-inclusive government in a bid to take the State to enviable heights.
Kalu, who said the collective interest of Abians should be placed above selfish ambitions, noted that the recent Supreme Court verdict affirming the victory of Governor Ikpeazu at the 2015 governorship poll has been received by the people as the will of God.
He said regardless of political differences, Abia State indigenes and residents must support the administration of Governor Ikpeazu in his efforts at transforming the state. The former governor made the remarks yesterday while speaking with journalists at his Igbere country home.
He said: “With the Supreme Court judgement affirming his victory at the 2015 gubernatorial election, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu can now pilot the affairs of the state without distractions.
“For the State to move forward, Governor Ikpeazu must be magnanimous in victory by demonstrating the spirit of sportsmanship in his governance.
“Politics is not do-or-die affair, and as such, Abians, irrespective of party affiliations, should cooperate with the governor in making Abia State the envy of other states.
“I am impressed with the maturity demonstrated by Chief Uche Ogah after the Supreme Court verdict that affirmed Governor Ikpeazu’s victory.”
The former governor, who is also the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Abia State, while calling on Abians to pray for leaders at all levels of government in the state, urged politicians to be selfless in their daily pursuits, adding that the essence of democracy is to improve the lot of the common people and not for self aggrandisement.
Meanwhile, International Evangelism Director for Methodist Church of Nigeria and founder of Vision Africa, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, has pleaded with Kalu to consider working with his former allies notwithstanding any friction and disagreement that must have existed among them.
He admonished that forgiveness keeps the soul warm and alive, hence, a sure means to keep not only brothers and friends united, but attract indispensable development in the state.
The cleric made the appeal yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen after a breakfast meeting with Kalu in the former governor’s country home, Neya Camp, in Igbere, Abia State. “Kalu, like many prominent personalities, has witnessed disappointments and betrayal from friends and allies; but that is not the issue. The issue is the consequences are borne more by the masses, not necessarily the actors.
“I have pleaded with him to forgive everyone he feels have offended him, and to also apologise to those he offended. I had expected the elders and other prominent Igbo leaders to wade into this issue and restore harmony among all the aggrieved people in the state for a better development. There is a need for total reconciliation across South-East region for us to move forward and faster,” he said.
Bishop Onuoha said part of his meeting with Kalu was to register his worry over the fate of Ndigbo in the recent political order.
“Despite reading his (Kalu’s) reasons on what informed his decision to join the APC, I still had my reservations. But today, I am pretty convinced Kalu made the best decision. I, therefore, call on Ndigbo to queue behind him in pursuit of the Igbo agenda,” he stated.