WHO IS THE REAL GODFATHER - By Eddie Onuzuruike

Much has been said, written and commented on the withdrawal of the degree certificate awarded and withdrawn by ABSU. I strongly feel that it is strictly an academic issue where the institution has acted within its academic ambits and any quest for reversal should actually be realized through diplomacy or legal engagement of the authorities of ABSU by the aggrieved party.

So many authorities have spoken! The daily and weekend papers were awash with opinions and verdicts from pedestrians to professionals. Academics who are the oracles on such events have been forthcoming, rendering professional and expert counsels. The University has the right to award and withdraw since as they claim, learning and conduct are elements of high consideration. For in-depth analysis sample these, Tunji Adegboyega, The Nation, page 17, March, 10, 2013. Segun Adeniyi, THisday, March 7, back page, Tunde Rahman, Thisday, Sat March 9. The Sunday Guardian, march 10, Leo Sobechi, page 22, Chijioke Iremeka and Gbenga Salau page 23, same Guardian, featuring Profs C C Agbodile, Alaide Abass, Solomon Akimboye and Dr Ayo Ojebode.

On the contrary, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has not made matters easy. It reminds me of a book or was it a story we read in the secondary school called One Week One Trouble. Kalu is unnecessarily controversial. Right from his days as Governor of Abia, it was from one controversy to the other. There were quick succession of deputy Governors, Abaribe, Nwafor and Acho Nwakanma. The exit of Abaribe now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was an issue that shook Abia to its political foundations. Now Abaribe is giving a good account of himself in the senate and people wonder if it is the same Abaribe who was tagged as disloyal and over assuming.

Abaribe’s impeachment controversy and the rumpus in the legislature polarized the state. The elders and stakeholders who refused to tow OUK’s line became instant enemies. Surprisingly, Kalu’s age when Obasanjo took up the reins of power as commander, Supreme Military Council was just 16 years. The yawning disparity in age and OBJ’s towering image as a national and military leader when Kalu was yet to put on his political nappies did not stop him from abusing Obasanjo profusely. His confrontation with Anenih who is now the BOT Chairman of PDP nearly dragged to the Olympian palace of the Oba of Benin. Later in 2009, there were verbal exchanges between Atiku and Kalu. ‘Atiku a chameleon and OUK a political liability’- The Sun Feb. 24, 2009. So, if I should ask, who is revered in Kalu’s life? Insulting an old man is a taboo in all Nigerian cultures but Kalu does this as a hobby. Kalu is midwiving a project he calls Njiko Ndi Igbo. Has Kalu left enough for Ndigbo to trust and invest in him? In 1999, Ekwueme was heartbroken at the PDP presidential primaries in Jos as he failed to garner all Igbo votes. Kalu having been elected Governor then, delivered Abia delegates against Ekwueme and the collective interest of Ndi Igbo. Same repeated in 2003, even after he went about speaking of Igbo presidency.

These few controversy dominated instances have not endeared Kalu’s ambitions and political quests to any except the uninformed and those who are feeding fat on him. I have proffered my little advice in previous treatises. Power belongs to God. Kalu was anointed at a youthful age but due to my instances above of extreme radicalism, disrespect and disregard for constituted authorities, some argue that all of the above have dissipated the anointing.

          His case with the Abia State Government and his controversial return to PDP is a story for another day. Come to think of it, is OUK the only one who left the party and came back? In Abia Vin Ogbulafor, Nkechi Nworgu, Abaribe and Acho Obioma did and were received with open hands when they returned. Why should Kalu’s become a national issue?

 People make mistakes addressing Kalu as Orji’s Godfather. Wrong! It should be the other way round. The antecedents of Orji and governance style will bear witness for him. Orji, a consummate Civil Servant and Administrative Secretary of NECON gave a large dose of his goodwill to Kalu, packaged him for Governorship when his opponents then wanted him discredited for so many unprintable reasons. Orji stood by him and made his dreams possible. Having noted the-above-board-character and invaluable experience, Kalu appointed Orji the Chief of Staff in return and T. A, gave a good account of himself, managing OUK like a brother. The evidence is clear. Kalu parted ways with deputies but Orji remained sturdily behind him for eight solid years bringing his administrative acumen to bear as many policy frameworks were put in place by T. A. In truth, T A was an OUK apologist, always begging, urging and assuaging OUK’s foes who grew geometrically.

“One good turn deserves another” they say. Kalu nominated and assisted Orji. Yes! Nobody can deny that but we forget that T. A. merited it from previous favours he did to Kalu. That Kalu was in office for eight years would be credited to T. A’s cool headedness, not betraying kalu for once, especially in his litany of controversies. As a matter of fact, Orji, like a snail glided through thorns and disarmed 100 soldiers armed with AK47 rifles. We need not go far in exposing the reasons for which EFCC detained Sir T A Orji. He only inherited the sins of another man. Kalu was linked and wouldn’t have been safe if Ochendo remained behind bars. When Sir T A Orji migrated from PPA to APGA it was a hard decision for him as he informed. It was like pulling a protective captain from a sinking ship. In his speech it was an emotional outburst when he stated that he was pushed beyond the wall. ‘I was pushed to the wall and beyond the wall. Any action I have taken is justified. It is only God who gives power and it should be for the good of the people….There comes a time you must listen to the yearning of the people, our people yearned for a change and as a leader, I have no option than to do their wish.’ How many governors who have the powers and authority will hesitate in employing such as T A did?

  Abia of today is quite different from Abia of yesterday. There is exemplary harmony between the legislature, judiciary and executive. There were actually executive-legislative brushes during Onu’s tenure but it escalated to the unimaginable as the legislature was in turmoil yielding three speakers of different hues to the extent that the Enweremadu group took flight to Abuja. The stakeholders with oracular fellows like Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Adulphus Wagbara, Mao Ohuabunnwa, Onyema Ugochukwu all huddled in Abuja and were taunted at home as Talibans. These are not mere stories but verifiable facts.

Kalu has age on his side and can still rebuild if he develops more time and interest in leadership instead of controversy. As a columnist in The Nation opined, he can go back to school and prove critics wrong. In my opinion, he should reengineer his structure and employ eggheads, ideal-hungry youths and matured minds who can boldly tell him the truth, strategizing without looking at his face. For him, it may not be difficult with his immense means. Involving in transparent charity work will boost his ego, Rochas Okorocha succeeded with that. As a master strategist, he should know these. Five to ten years will give him a different image. But can Kalu be patient to wait for five years without a major controversy?

On the other hand, being in opposition or being a critic is no crime. Along our long walk to and from independence, many have taken the toga of critics and opposition chieftains. Among these are Malam Amino Kano, Balarabe Musa, Beko and Fela Ransome Kuti and Gani Fawyehmi.  Unarguably Sage Awolowo was in opposition. He always took pains to analyze the national budget and protested the imbalances. At last he was proven right when the economy nosedived. He never insulted anybody for once.

In multilingual, multicultural and religiously diversified Nigeria, one needs a lot of diplomacy. Each group needs the other in synergy and collaboration. Anybody’s interest should lean more on collective and not personal. We have noticed that in order to score political points and demean Sir T A Orji, Kalu has unleashed unethical propaganda machinery on the state. Among these are The Sun Newspapers where he has coerced all his staff to write negatively about Abia and Orji. Too many innocuous groups have emerged on his platform dishing out quantum lies on daily basis through bulk guerilla Short Massages Service. Kalu should be a statesman having governed a state for eight years. He should outgrow the boyhood onslaught with his faceless groups like Abia Voice, Ofo na Ogu, Abia Rescue, OUK Youths, and Olu BIAFRA that have gone haywire with no holds barred.

We need peace in Abia. If Kalu needs to be accorded respect, he should know that respect is reciprocal. Too much controversy is hardly the palliative recipe. According to an Igbo axiom, where people are sincere in preparing a balm for the eye, pepper should not be part of the ingredients.

Eddie Onuzuruike.