Ahead 2015 general elections, former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji UzorKalu convenes Njiko Igbo, a significant socio-political platform conceived to provide focus and give teeth to the agitation for a president of Igbo extraction. LOUIS ACHI examines the agenda of the body and the speculations swirling around it
The new development has his familiar imprimatur – audacity. Where others are timorous and hesitant, the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji UzorKalu strides in boldly. This scenario is even more so when he is convinced of the importance of the cause for his beloved Ndigbo. Too young to fight in the Biafran War and spared of its horrors, Kalu has told his fellow Ndigbo and Nigerians at large that he does not carry the searing psychological burden of that fratricidal crisis.
Nevertheless, steeped in core Igbo traits of open-mindedness, hard work, humility and courage, his novel engagement strategy with the Nigerian state would appear to have hugely benefited from been spared of the war terrors which killed millions of Igbo.
This has clearly translated into the quality of his economic and political engagement with both the North and South-west and larger Nigeria. There may then be linkages between the unending controversies generated by the Young Turk to his burning desire to move his people and Nigeria forward. There is more
On Sunday September 16th, 2012 at the Aso Villa residence, Abuja, of the National Convener, Kalu, a meeting of the new socio-political organization, Njiko Igbo was held. Since that occasion there have been speculations on the real motive behind the formation of the group. A key assumption is that the new group seeks to replace OhanezeNdigbo and related platforms on issues concerning the Igbo ethnic nationality in the Nigerian scheme of affairs.
But EmekaObasi, media adviser to the former governor told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND that this assumption was flawed and derives from insufficient appreciation of the core philosophy of the new group. He also dismissed insinuations that the new body was targeting replacement of OhanezeNdigbo or any other bodies working for the interest of Igbo people.
According to Obasi, “The aims of Njiko Igbo as the name connotes, include harmonization of different interests in the South East Zone of Nigeria, facilitation of a common South East position on national issues, rekindling the spirit of political participation among the citizens at the grassroots across the zone as well as channeling such enthusiasm to positive national goals, building bridges across political tendencies in the zone and extending such bridges to other geo-political zones for the full re-integration of the zone among others.”
In further clarification, Obasi stated that, “It is also necessary to state categorically that insinuations that Kalu would deploy the platform to launch his presidential ambition come 2015 were simply mischievous and consistent with forces that are hostile to the former governor’s bold plans for his people and larger Nigeria. It was agreed unanimously that the key objective is Igbo unity in every nook and cranny of the global village and not the political ambition of any individual or political party.”
Apparently, this position was further confirmed at a follow-up meeting at Kalu’s residence on Sunday October 7th, 2012 where it was accepted that political party partisanship should give way to the collective Igbo interest and issues. “That Kalu proceeded on a visit to? Democratic Republic of Congo the next day, Monday October 8th, 2012 to preach the Igbo Unity Gospel, is part of the global sensitization? strategy,” Obasi told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND.
“Those who feel threatened by Igbo unity and their paid agents who think they can graduate their personal political differences with Kalu to sabotaging noble causes such as NjikoIgbo? simply because Kalu is involved, are missing the point because Njiko Igbo is an idea whose time has come and it has come to stay no matter what Igbo haters and their cohorts think or do,” the ex-governor’s spokesman further stated.
Recalling recent publications in some segment of media claiming that Kalu was at an event in Enugu which was allegedly disrupted by some youths he held that while incontrovertible evidences proved that Kalu was nowhere near Enugu throughout the period in question only serves to expose the ignorance and tactlessness of the Igbo detractors but also further rubbishes the credibility of the media house that published the blatant falsehood without clarification.