THISDAY: Do you think the presidential aspirations of Chiaf Jim Nwobodo affected the chances of Dr. Ekwueme?
KALU: I discussed with Chief Jim Nwobodo. He really wanted to be president. He was also particularly sceptical of the so-called Igbo agenda; that in 1979 there was a clear Igbo agenda but Ekwueme went to NPN, so how does he think Igbo youths would support him today. He also argured that the vision Ekwueme saw in 1979, the upcoming generation of politicians are seeing it today. His mind was quite set on not working with Ekwueme as a result of the unwillingness of Ekwueme to support Dr. Azikiwe in 1979.

THISDAY: Perhaps the Ekwueme team never really made real impact into the northern political class?
KALU: It was a question of negotiation. Dr. Ekwueme did not arrive at a proper understanding with the Northern elites. I am quite convinced he did not, I have reasons for saying this, I found out he did not.

THISDAY: Should the South-East refuse to vote PDPD for the presidential election, what implication do you forsee?
KALU: I do not see the South-East not voting PDP, they are wiser than you think. God is the only one that gives power, and by what happened he is saying it is not our (Igbos) turn now and we should accept the will of God. It is painful we lost. But the fact is that the wrong people managed Ekwueme's campaign. If they had allowed politicians of my generation to manage him, it would have been a different case because we know what to do. I am saying, manage Ekwueme, not manage his campaign because what was wrong was both the management of the candidate and management of the campaign.
If we had managed him very well, even if the campaign was wrong, we could have got him on stream. the campaign machinery never got its bearing right from the very begginning. On my part I advised those managing the team. I discussed the matter with Dr. Ekwueme. I made suggestion. I offered to help, but I was called a Northern stooge and other names.
For instance compare the campaign team of Dr. Ekwueme and Gen Obasanjo. The former had the unmistakable predominance of people of Anambra State, for an affair that concerns us all, that wasn't fair... It is very painful thing to see a very respectable Igbo man (Alex Ekwueme) who is very qualified losing election. But it was not the making of Dr. Ekwueme, it was the handiwork of the campaign team, which became sentimental and never evolved a focus, a winning-focus.

Mr. Ndigbo and others who have labelled Orji Kalu an Arewa product, you seems from the interview above trying to repeat the same costly mistake Igbos made in Jos. The fact of Nigerian politics is that if you want to rule Nigeria you MUST include the North in your calculations. That does not mean that you cannot tell the North the neccessary truths when neccessary; Kalu was bold to reprimand the North when the Kaduna massacre took place. I am sure that should he become president, he will not fail to square up against the North when Igbo interest(s) are threatened because in politics there is no permanent friends rather what there is is permanent interest and Kalu knows that.
The fact that Orji Kalu wanted Ekwueme to include other Igbos and the North in his campaign team means Kalu understands what it takes to make a winning team to become president of Nigeria, and if you add this to his achievements so far as governor, I think he will not only represent (all) Igbos but he will make a very good Nigerian president.

From that this day interview with Orji Kalu I came out respecting this guy more and more. Not only he is an action Governor he is also a very astute politician. It seem to me that he really understand the game. Like he said I think the problem we continue to have with our Igbo politician, Is that some of this old cargos doesn't want to vacate the stage for some of this young. And upcoming politician who understand the game of modern Nigeria politician to take charge.

May 16, 2001
Posted to the web May 16, 2001

Bature Umar in Abuja
Lagos

A group of prominent Igbo men and women championing the election of an Igbo president in 2003 is planing a 10million-man march in the Abia State capital, Umuahia to lure Governor Orji Uzor Kalu into the presidential race.

The 10million-man march which is being coordinated by a consortium of groups based mostly in the South-east and the South-south would hold before the end of next month, if the Abia Governor does not respond to calls on him to declare his interest for the presidency.

A member of the House of Representatives and National Coordinator of the group calling for the endorsement of Kalu for the presidency, Hon. Maurice Ibekwe disclosed this in a chat with newsmen yesterday.

According to Ibekwe who is also the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, the march would involve volunteers and supporters of the call for an Igbo president in 2003 all of whom would converge in the Abia State capital to mount pressure on Kalu to heed their call.

The financing of the programme, according to Ibekwe who has been in the vanguard to draft Orji Kalu into the presidential race would be undertaken by Igbo men of substance desirous of seeing the emergence of an Igbo president in 2003 in fulfillment of the resolution of the meeting of all Igbo elected and appointed political office holders held last weekend in Umuahia.

Ibekwe pointed out that the group has toured some countries in Europe and the United States of America where they met with various interest groups on their agenda for 2003.

The groups, he also revealed, have offered to finance marh the for the actualisation of an Igbo president in the next general elections adding " but for now I and people of like minds are financing the Nigerian chapter of the campaign to fruition".

He said the endorsement of the call for an Igbo president come 2003 by all elected and appointed political office holders at their last meeting in the Abia state capital, was a vindication of their commitment, adding " the role given to Orji Kalu by participants at the meeting to coordinate consultation with other parts of the country was a recognition of the governor's popularity in the country."

The entire Igbo race, he pointed out, should forget about age and certificate and support the Kalu project if they desire to see the emergence of an Igbo president in their life time.

I just saw this thread, belated to comment? (probably not), nonetheless, permit me to path you on the back, for bowing to reason. If it is any consolation, I was also confused, at the onset on this Ibo/Igbo saga, until I became wiser.

Let me borrow from you, without much ado, let’s carry on with (the) plethora of issues to be tackled.

Its interesting to observe that the true Biafrans are not frivoluos minded and materialistically empty headed. They are unlikely to be blind hero-worshippers. They believe that collective good and progress supersedes individual greed.

Hail Biafra

That is just too hash.

Amanda,

The so-called weak intellectual race remains focus on their educational advancement, rather than selling spare parts.

It is very simple, the educational system in Nigeria is @ ground zero. It is a reflection of how bad our educational system has gone. I have to candidly accept that it was a very appalling result, and i was shocked when i read about it.

People have resulted to "KALURISING" & TINUBURISING (No apology to Kalu and Tinubu) certificates instead of studying hard.

Your president Biggie belle is just an army mechanic who couldn't get a degree off the internet even if he tried.The fellow speaks very little good english and is known to be uncouth and vulgar.

You see those spare part dealers are the engine on which the Biafran economic machinery would be built, we are very proud of them.Now since you do not like these spare parts dealing Igbo's can you folks please let MY PEOPLE GO so you can have educated Nigerians like Aremu and the Ondo high school graduates take over their stalls.
Do we have a deal?

Yes, we have a deal to agree to disagree, and be civil about it.

My only advice to you is not to even think of encouraging your area boys to cause those Biafran spare part dealers any harm.Given that you despise them so much, I am once again asking that you agree to my proposal, you can have the markets just LET MY PEOPLE GO.

Even against these schemings by Yorubas....intellects and area boyz alike, the Igbo traders still manages to excel cleanly better on their non-govt professions in your Yoruba lands than your ilk. Because you are caused to uselessness, any time you have personal/family/social problems, the inbuilt envy turned hatred, in you drives you to destroy the carefully built livelihood of the Igbos in your lands. You've been temporarily getting away with it for now, while the Igbos keep taking stock of your wilful destruction. Thru your govt..which will accumulate into your country's national debt, you'll pay for all those wanton destruction, with interest.

As you already know, the Igbos are the lifeline of Lagos and other Yoruba cities. With Biafra Actualization, Ndigbo will channel all their business energy and resources into building a formidable and prosperous Biafra. You, on the other hand will degenerate into the heap of decadent refuse that Lagos, et al, should have been...had it not been for those Igbo merchants.

Exactly like the envious cad that you are, you are known to bite the fingers that feed you. You can't be redeemed. Its in your genes.

My boy, one specific thing you should know about Biafrans is that we are charming in all aspect of lives both social, market and educational studs. From the very poor motor spare parts to the middle and well of course to the highest. We are hard working, God given gifted race and thats the difference between your race [Yoruba] and the Master race, Biafran. By statistics the number of educated Biafrans compared to your race has Biafra slightly ahead not withstanding that we fought the goddamned war in the east.Every Biafran has a trade or two compared to lazy bumps. Competition in Biafra is a culture, be the best you can be, while among your race dependency is more of a governmental burden than self actualization.

Just recently the North acknowledged that they are the most backward, although the Yorubas are too scary to admit it. The recent stats in Ondo proved them otherwise..Just the facts boy.

Once again , I don't give a bloody damn who represents Biafrans so long as he or she is not of mixed blood yellow belly or parasitic Hausa. No apologies. You are intellectually clo