One of the abiding maxims that I have imbibed in life is the one espoused by Mahatma Ghandi – if you want to know how people feel about you, find out what they say about you when you are not there.
The bane of many of our current politicians is that they have been so immersed in what they keep hearing from court-jesters and professional sycophants that they find it hard to stay in touch with the true realities on ground.
Thankfully, there are still political office holders who command uncommon love and cult followership even beyond their areas of immediate influence.
One of those public officials is Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. I will explain.
In December 2005, my colleague and I were around the Mandilas area in Lagos trying to secure parking space. Adjacent to Mandilas is a Total Petrol Station, a portion of which has been converted to a commercial parking space, run by some young men.
As we approached this parking space in our official car bearing Abia State Government House plates, the guy in charge of the lot took one look at our plates and our story changed.
He enquired about Orji Kalu and on ascertaining that he was okay, he herded us to an area of the parking lot that was obviously for V.I.P cars and asked us to park there. On our return, he turned down the money we offered him and asked us to tell Orji Kalu that they (he and his friends) liked his style and that they are fully with him in whatever he does.
I felt that was quite touching until I had cause to travel to Abuja recently by road. On my return trip, I stopped at a popular Petrol Station at Ayangba in Kogi State to refill my tank. While the attendant was dispensing the fuel, he saw the ‘Orji Kalu for President’ Sticker on my car and asked if I was an Orji supporter.
I answered in the affirmative and added that I was actually on my way to Government House, Umuahia. I was shocked at the drama that ensued afterwards. He insisted I see the Alhaji that owns the station and as soon as he was told that I was on my way to Government House, Umuahia, he was all over me. He insisted they refund me the money I had paid for my fuel and went ahead to give me a large quantity of the multiple varieties of fruits being hawked at the station.
The Alhaji, who stated that Governor Kalu has been a friend of his for a long time, noted that he has taken it upon himself to mobilize support for the Orji Kalu presidency within that entire region.
As I made to leave, the Alhaji, all his staff and all the hawkers at the Petrol Station saw me off to my car and kept waving for as long as I could see in my rear view mirror. My immediate thoughts were - just what kind of a man is this Orji Kalu?
The popular notion held of an Igbo man is that nothing can ever come in the way of his looking for money.
That myth was dispelled sometime last month at the Onitsha Main Market – unarguably the centre of trade and commerce in Igboland.
On the day in question, Governor Kalu came to the Onitsha Main Market to see the traders and intimate them of issues affecting the Igboman.
Governor Kalu and his team arrived Onitsha Main Market at about 10am to a tumultuous reception. The traders had been waiting for him since 8am. Imagine, Igbomen leaving there shops to wait for somebody to come and talk to them!
Governor Kalu spoke from the first floor balcony of the Market Union Secretariat and for as much as the eyes could see, a sea of people were packed in the open space cheering with deafening ovation.
For the one hour that Governor Kalu was with the traders, Onitsha knew that something was going on. The ovation and the cheer could be heard from every part of the city.
Passers-by and everyone on the street could not help but join in the rally and for a long time, there was traffic gridlock in various streets of Onitsha as people climbed on top of there stationary cars to catch a glimpse of the enigma called Orji Kalu.
Of recent, a commotion of sorts has been occurring each time Governor Kalu’s convoy moves from the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri after a trip outside the state.
At every junction the convoy approaches on the Owerri – Mbaise – Obowo – Umuahia road, hoards of people practically cordon off the road, singing, dancing and jubilating in praise of Orji Uzor Kalu.
More often than not, the convoy will be held-up, with Okada men displaying all kinds of frightening acrobatics, until Governor Kalu alights and greets the people before they allow him access. The joy and admiration on the faces of these people reveal nothing but pure awe of the young man.
As I reflect on these occurrences, an incidence that occurred over three years ago flashes through my mind.
I was at the lobby of the then Nicon (Now Transcorp) Hilton Hotel, Abuja before the commencement of a meeting between Senators and their principal officers.
While there, Late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, who had just been dethroned as Senate president, walked in and the Hilton lobby exploded with tumultuous shouts of ‘Oyii, Oyiii’.
Senators, bystanders, staff and virtually everybody at the Hilton lobby joined in the chorus and in his characteristic manner, Late Senator Okadigbo waved his famed Horsetail and shook hands with as many people as he could before proceeding to the elevator where even those that were there before him reverently allowed him board one of the carts to go up to his floor.
In sharp contrast, moments after Senator Okadigbo’s entry, the then incumbent Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim walked into the same lobby and nobody noticed him. His security aides made all the fuss they could muster to let it be known that a VIP had arrived but even Senators went about there normal business without bothering to say hello to him.
For a long time, I reflected on the significance of that contrasting event and came to the conclusion that this thing called charisma, it is either one has it or one doesn’t.
Governor Kalu has displayed an amazing degree of charisma, charm and political brinkmanship. He has endeared himself to the common man on the street while maintaining his membership of the political elite. How he manages to juggle these extreme positions is a study in enigmatic traits.
My only prayer is for the 2007 presidential contest to be open, free and fair and I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that from what I have seen, the candidate that will win Orji Kalu in a presidential contest has not emerged yet.
quote:Kalu mature to be president – Babangida By CHUKS ONUOHA – Umuahia Monday, May 15, 2006
Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has described Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Kalu, as a mature person who can be the President of this country.
General Babangida, who spoke to journalists at Chief Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, shortly before his departure from a state visit to Abia was answering questions from journalists on whether he did not see any other person mature enough to rule the country in 2007 besides himself.
Responding, Babangida said that one person he believes is mature to be President is Dr Orji Uzor Kalu. He called on politicians in the country to play the game of politics by the rule.
The former president arrived the state over the weekend and was hosted by the governor, who also escorted him to the home of a Niger State based businessman of Abia origin, Sir Ojimadu Cypril Nweze, to pay his condolence on the death of his sister, Justina.
In his entourage was the Governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Kure, among other important personalities. Speaking at the home of the Nwezes, the former president prayed God to give him the courage to bear the loss of his sister.
In his reaction, Sir Nweze expressed delight at the visit, stating that he did everything to disuade the former president from paying the visit. "The love you are showing today touched me, Sir Nweze said, adding it is not by might that you are coming to our house today because, we are nobody."
Amazing!
___________________ "I know a lot of people think I'm dumb. Well, at least I ain't no educated fool"
-------------Leon Spinks Posts: 71 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: May 2005
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posted
It's amazing how fast the presidential noise stopped when the time came for who's who to show what they are made of. Nothing is heard about their ouk’s presidential train that started off on bent wheels, anymore, why? The crook made tactical blunders on all fronts, first he ridiculed Biafrans and MASSOB with his appeasement of the awusa at our expense. Next, he fell off the gravy train with his Yoroba master, olisia ego obunsunjo when he set out to appease his awusa lords at the detriment of his erstwhile god. How can a man with such low acumen even dream of escaping the long arms of justice to become the president? His noisy supporters should please tell how especially now that their pdp is seriously searching for a flag bearer, does not consider him. How does the Aba criminal hope to achieve this unreachable goal, pray tell?
quote:Presidency: Fayose Panel to Shortlist 3 Govs for PDP By Bolaji Adebiyi in Lagos and Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja, 06.02.2006
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a few of their counterparts in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) will meet in Abuja on Thursday to pick three aspirants among those who have indicated their interests for the 2007 presidential elections. The short-listed aspirants will then be presented to the PDP in order of preference even as there are indications that the governors may have, for strategic reasons, ceded the top job to the North to checkmate the rising profile of Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Hints from the governors’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday came just as PDP Senators Idris Kuta and Adolphus Wabara questioned the moral basis of pro-third term governors’ quest for the presidency.
Both senators said it was shameful for the governors to step forward for the President’s job since they had said no other person except Obasanjo could take the country out of the woods. Despite the attack from the Senate, three governors from the North and two from the South-south have indicated their interests in the presidency. The Northern aspirants are Alhaji Adamu Mua'zu of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna State and Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi of Nasarawa State.
From the South-south are Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili and Obong Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State. Mr. Donald Duke of Cross River State often touted as another contender was not at the meeting while Chief Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck of Bayelsa State and Chief James Ibori of Delta State have not shown interest. THISDAY checks reveal that none of the South-east governors has also signified interest but they still have till Thursday to make up their minds though Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Kalu, who was not at the meeting, has already launched his presidential campaign.
The otinkpu for nothings quickly forgot that they were dealing with a fifth world nation where jungle justice still reigns when they cheered their man on while he unleashed undiplomatic tirades against their president. Dummies!
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Again my friend, you got it fully WRONG. It's about the tactical blunder committed by him and his followers when they aggrieved the Igbo grass roots. Copy?
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Wiggling lying weber, please tell us when your oga will start preparation for his 2007 investiture?
quote:Governors intensify lobby
As the PDP governors are billed to meet Thursday and make public the report of the screening on likely candidate who would vie for the party’s presidential ticket, some of those keenly interested in the position have continued to intensify their lobby.
Vanguard was informed that the meeting slated for Thursday may itself not produce the desired result as there are agitations for more consultations. Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, who heads the governors forum, has been under immense pressure from those who have signified their intention to run for the ticket of the party.
Those who have already signified their interests include Governor Peter Odili (Rivers State), Governor Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi State), Governor Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom State), Governor Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna State), Governor Donald Duke (Cross River State), and Governor Saminu Turaki (Jigawa State).
Unless I’m reading this upside down, there’s nowhere the name of the master bandit, orji kamalu appeared under the minutest consideration, still his errant followers refuse to smell the melting coffee to realize that the scallywag with record nines (9s) in his WASC result has been outplayed for good, to the extent that he’s no longer talkative. All along, this kamalu he-goat was scheming to be deputized by any awusa man or woman who’s willing to risk his many baggage to bring him onboard. Where in the world is the lying orji kamalu now that the coast has been cleared for serious presidential contenders to present their portfolios for review?
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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Traders and businessmen in Aba, Abia State, numbering more than 5,000, have alerted the people and the international community that it is the turn of Igbo to produce the president in 2007.
According to the coordinator of the Ariaria International Market Chapter of the Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) National Support Organisation(ONSO), Ndubuisi Emem, at the inauguration ceremony of the group at the weekend, Igbo had for many years earnestly and satisfactorily contributed to the growth and development of Nigerian nation.
Emem, who called on Nigerians, particularly the Igbo, to see the 2007 presidency as an obligation, charged them to overcome all odds in order to achieve the goal.
”It is a hard task, but the harder a task, the greater its reward. All we need is more determination, grit and will. After all, nothing good comes so easy,” he said.
He also charged Nigerians in the spirit of democracy, to encourage and support equity and fairness towards bringing about sincere leadership in the nation.
The leader of the Ariaria Market traders, who said that Kalu was the most qualified Igbo man to occupy the seat of the nation’s presidency come 2007, added that the group’s major concern was to have Kalu in Aso Rock after President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He said Kalu was a man of principle and integrity, adding that his experience as a private businessman, former legislator and an executive governor for two terms already prepared him as a leader to positively reposition the nation’s economy.
posted
Whew! Hard truth. The thing is, can nwa aro explain this? Even people who are nowhere near Aba can write a book on this criminal's embezzlement of public funds.
quote: Reflecting on “President” Orji Uzor Kalu, “Minister” Fani Kayode & Music By Dr. Sylvester Omosun Fadal San Jose, CA. USA
Orji Kalu continues to prep himself for the presidential house. His base for believing he is qualified is unclear. His performance record in his state remains questionable and to most Nigerians, he is a man with a loud mouth, poor record of accomplishment, a desperate power seeker and one with a narcissistic sense of self. Orji has failed his people and wants to migrate his state failures to a national level. We know he is not the best the South East can offer and most notable Ndigbos have eked him off the list of viable contenders because he brings a certain level of degradation to the presidential office and does not represent the South East well. Though he stands no chance now and in the future in his quest for the presidency, his effort to remain relevant is a wise approach that would lead to nothing but a twisted end.
According to Kalu “If Nigerian leaders had been patriotic, the country would have advanced but their selfish and egocentric tendencies have made them to submerge patriotism with their ego and selfishness.” This is an interesting statement from a governor whose state is noted as one of the worst in infrastructure development and provision, one of the dirtiest due to a clear and intentional neglect of the street and regions, a magnet for armed robberies that continue to stagnate activities to a saddening level, a destruction of a state that was once noted as a trendsetter but now earns the pious credit as one of the most regressive state.
Kalu has not affected people in his state positively. He has made fabricated and unjust accusations of others and when called upon or clearly caught in a lie, he shuffles the blame to lower level staffs as noted by his actions against his ex-deputy governor and the Tony Anenih saga that ultimately led to the impeachment and untimely death of the ex-deputy governor. He knows very little about loyalty. He is skilled at using scapegoats for bait to escape consequences.
Kalu has created frustration among his people companioned with a disdain for those that question his performance as it relates to the duties of his office. He has no idea of how to find viable solutions to the state’s existing problems. He has literarily closed doors and thrown his people into mental and emotional mire. He has no conscience and is noted behind close doors as having similar management and tyrannical methods like OBJ.
A lover of cults, he is well known for using cult members with very little sense of self to intimidate top and lower level citizens that criticize him. He is a man of very little technical or leadership ability. A highly transactional individual with a penchant for personal gain, he has turned out to be one of the richest men in Nigeria behind the likes of James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, Jerry Useni, Atiku, IBB, and Bukola Saraki (a new greed pace setter that I will discuss in more depth in a different article) and a zillion more.
A man with little respect for his elders, he is known to have locked horns with Alex Ekwueme and ex-Biafran war lord, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu prior to recently reconciling with both when he began exploratory movement towards his goal of seeking the presidency. Nigerians must ignore this reject who needs a psychological mirror to help him get a true picture of himself rather than the drums of those that are willing to sell their souls for a piece of the state pie.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:Ohanaeze may concede Presidency to South-South By Oluwole Farotimi THE Igbo may concede the Presidency of the nation to the South-South geo-political zone in 2007, according to Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
But the Igbo socio-cultural organisation has for now warned against acts capable of scuttling the chances of the South-East from realising its 2007 presidential ambition.
This warning followed the alleged manipulation of the Ohanaeze Election Committee (OTC) saddled with the responsibility of organising elections for the replacement of its sitting executives. The committee was allegedly highjacked by some Igbo bigwigs for their selfish political ends.
Addressing a news conference in Lagos, National President of the group, Joe Irukwu, said he and other members of the body were ready to lay down their lives for the realisation of the Igbo Presidency in 2007, saying: "We are ready to die for the interest of Ndigbo."
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo President stated that the position of the group was that either the Igbo or the South-South produce the next President for Nigeria, "but we all know that the ambition of Governor Kalu to become a Vice-President on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and his sponsorship of dichotomies in our group have become a threat."
He continued: "It is not as if we are against Orji Kalu becoming the Vice-President, but the truth is that Mike Ahamba is a member of the ANPP that zoned the Presidency to the north, that is why their chief host Orji Kalu is down to earth.
"They can do whatever they want, but we won't let them use Ohanaeze to foster their own unpatriotic ambitions; we can only concede our Igbo Presidency in 2007 to our brothers in the South-South.
"We are doing everything possible to achieve the Igbo Presidency in 2007. It is even our unsung achievements in this direction that gave birth to the Southern Forum; it is just that our own people are our greatest enemies and problems."
But in a telephone interview, Kalu's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Onuoha Udeala, denied that the governor was seeking to be Vice-President in 2007.
He said: "Kalu is not seeking to play second fiddle to any person in any party. He believes he can win any free and fair presidential election because of his nationwide acceptance and achievements.
"This is why the governor has been going round the country building bridges as he has always done in the past. He has also set up an elaborate presidential campaign machinery."
2003 - 2006 @ Guardian Newspapers Limited (All Rights Reserved). Powered by dnetsystems.net dnet?
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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By Simon Ebegbulem &Gabriel Enogholase Tuesday, December 5, 2006
BENIN CITY— GOVERNOR Orji Kalu of Abia State said, yesterday, that if the war against corruption must succeed in the country it should start from the Presidency, asserting that, “The Presidency is the root of corruption, it stinks”. He also boasted that the plot to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to impeach him would fail because, “It is the people of Abia State that elected me and not Obasanjo”.
Governor Kalu who also attributed the spate of impeachments in the country to the “greed and power craziness of some powerful clique in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pointed out that the development had portrayed the party as intolerant and volatile, which according to him was an indication that “something is fundamentally and structurally wrong with the party”.
The governor who spoke in Benin City while delivering a lecture entitled, “The Challenges of Our Democracy: Impeachments and Political Stability in Nigeria”, on the occasion of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week, described as unfortunate that state legislators with the connivance of the Presidency have plotted the impeachment of some state governors who were perceived enemies of the President after labeling them as corrupt.
He insisted that the Presidency was more corrupt than the governors because the President had been directly in charge of the oil industry for seven years, therefore that the war against corruption would not succeed unless the Presidency probe itself before labeling others as corrupt.
“No governor including me, no President or Vice is as clean as snow. Anybody you start looking into, you will find something. Even those who are dishing the orders have questions to answer. So let these people stop deceiving us. If we must fight corruption we must start from the Presidency. Five years ago I told Mr President that corruption is under your table and I still say it today because the Presidency is stinking,” he declared.
According to him, “Who lifts Nigeria crude oil? Who lifts it with Andrew Young? Is it Orji Kalu? It is not Orji Kalu. It is the Presidency and that is the height of corruption. Mr President has been Minister for Petroleum for seven years”. yet they come to indict governors for N200 million when billions of dollars are going away”.
“I challenged the National Assembly to audit properly what happened in the federal ministry of Power and Still. I challenge the national Assembly to audit properly what happened in the Ministry of Works and still happening there today. I challenged them to also investigate why my sister Okonjo Iweala resigned as Minister for Finance. It is transparency and accountability.
“This kill Peter to pay Paul should stop in Nigeria . If the corruption war must succeed it must start from the head to the bottom.Leaders should not be afraid of death. Leaders should not be afraid of any body impeaching them. Leaders are made by God and not by a man like Obasanjo.Obasanjo did not elect me governor of Abia state but Abia people. So I am not accountable to Obasanjo but to the people of Abia state.
Abians , we will resist them
Vowing that the plot to impeach him would fail, Governor Orji declared, “what happened in Bayelsa, Oyo, Ekiti, Anambra and Plateau may not work in a state like Abia where we have delivered dividends of democracy to our people. We are prepared to defend our self. If any body wants to come to Abia to create confusion the person will face the wrath of the people and the wrath of God”.
“I want to warn that those who are thinking that third term plan and tenure elongation is gone, it is not gone. What they (Presidency) are doing now is impeaching those opposed to their elongation plans and I am proud to say that I will oppose third term any day ay time in this country”.
the Law of catch am!...catch am!.. most stop!!
He continued “If I was the President and there was an election in 2003, I will leave with shame if the supreme court had ruled that my state was rigged. Obasanjo did not resign but expected him to resign because his state was voided. People should stop deceiving themselves. They should stop this law of catch am”
“But let me warn them no body will be allowed to rig elections in 2007. If you are not popular you are not popular. We will stand to defend our democracy with any thing at our disposal. People who are thinking that they will sit in their homes and write results as it happened in 2003 are making a mistake” he stated.
posted
Honestly,America has no right to sideline who will be or who will contest for Presidency in Nigeria but Nigeria been what it is gave them that right,i do believe that they did all the trend said but let me make it clear to every patriotic Biafran that Orji Uzor Kalu is not a thief,no one is perfect in Politics because Politicians are all liars.
Who can bend it like Becckham?
This is the question every football fanatic ask those days but today we the upcoming terminators always ask this............
WHO CAN BEAT NELSON MADIBA MANDELA?
Africa is a mess and Nigeria is the gall of Gallacus meaning that Nigeria is fucked up so everything baout Nigeria is fucked up.Orji uzor Kalu will not make the best President Nigeria will produce but if given a chance,for sure he will beat Nelson Mandela.
___________________ Udo ga adi Posts: 74 | From: Biafra | Registered: Nov 2006
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