Some persons think that the fresh move by certain persons in the Abia State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the political party kneeling down to its chairman that they do not want Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (popularly called OUK), who was a former governor of the state, represent the voice and aspiration of Abia people. No. Ndi-Abia do not know those people except for some of them holding key positions in different portfolios in and out the state. With the exception of that, Kalu’s image and integrity looms in the heart of the majority of Abians, Igbo people, and by extension, Nigerians. Much more than those other persons combined together.
Kalu has shown that he is not of the old block of politicians like those who have made every attempt to pull him down by all means but they couldn’t and cannot. This is evident in the formation of the Njiko Igbo, an organisation aimed at uniting Ndigbo at home and in the diaspora, which is greatly becoming conspicuous in the heart of Ndigbo and non-Igbo at home and elsewhere around the globe. Against this backdrop, those persons had thought that Kalu was in political oblivion, when he decided to stay away from active politics for some time, but it is now clear that he was not.
Today that he has shown that he did not run away from politics, and in forming Njiko Igbo, many people are aligning with him again. To these people, they are of the belief that Kalu wants a good government in Nigeria, and except for the possibility of an Igbo becoming the president of Nigeria in 2015, the expectations of Nigerians for a messiah might be aloof.
With his recent position in the Njiko Igbo, Kalu has everything positive to offer Nigerians. Let those that have ears hear. Njiko Igbo is not an organisation that is bent on a selfish agenda. It is a new groove in the Nigeria’s history that is set to make history and historians would soon be carrying out extensive research to find out the degree of ingenuity in Kalu to form the Njiko Igbo, but they might not come very close to the real extent of ingenuity, as anything Kalu touches turns to gold.
Anyone can make bold to say that Kalu is a mighty man in political battle in Nigeria. He is does not merely pose as an Igbo elder statesman, but he has proven time after time to be an Igbo as well as a Nigerian enthusiast. If this was not so, how else is an enthusiast defined when Kalu offered to dialogue the Federal Government with the Boko Haram, when even Generals in the Army were running from this onerous task. The latter is pathetic! Many Nigerians shuddered of the stuff that he was made with and his respect and integrity are increasing day by day beyond the plans of his perceived political opponents.
Njiko Igbo is one organisation that everyone deserves. Igbo presidency is vital. Kalu is talking about the actualization of an average Igbo person’s objective. And he is not wasting his time. Kalu’s magnanimity has shown him that the unity of the Igbo is the purpose. Anyone who might say that Kalu is not making sense should check himself or herself and would later find out that Kalu makes a lot of sense with this formulation of Njiko Igbo.
It is not easy to make strong again the Igbo spirit that has been battered by Nigeria politically, to participate as the first fiddle as against the third fiddle that the Nigerian state has placed the Igbo race in Nigeria. But with Kalu, it is easy to unite the Igbo again. And he is achieving this through the grassroots and beyond with encouraging countrywide goals.
Royal Highnesses and notable Igbo sons and daughters are applauding Kalu, saying that Njiko Igbo is a welcome development, and that they are ready to dump any political party that would not allow the Igbo people to actualise the dream of the Igbo presidency in 2015. Kalu is not minding the side distractions, and he is moving forward. He is handling the Njiko Igbo as if there are no challenges. He is not interested in those side distractions, but in Nigeria, and that the Igbo should produce a president in the next elections.
It is Kalu’s passion to unite the Igbo, which is conspicuously fully, occupies his time. From the recent activities he seemed not to have spare time for anything else. He is working every minute on matters that are apprehension to the Igbo people. A man who is doing this deserves every inch of the Igbo support.
It is pertinent that Ndigbo should unite. This call by Kalu should transcend. They should not be trading blames about who champions or does not champion the call for the unity of the Igbo. Somebody must make a move for unity, and Kalu has started it. The unity is what everybody must and should be concerned with, and not whether it is Dick or Tom that calls for the unity. People believe in Kalu and they are supporting him and his course. Everybody should lend their support to this initiative.
Odimegwu Onwumere wrote in from Aba, Abia State. email: apoet_25@yahoo.com
