Let those who speak thus remember the
words of the German Philosopher, Martin Heidegger. He heard people
saying, “You cannot do anything with philosophy” and surveyed all of
them and their various reasons and then said: “It is true, as you say,
that we cannot do anything with philosophy. But it is quite possible
that philosophy, if we allow it, might be able to do something with us”.
So is it with Orji Kalu, who marching on with a jaunty air and doing
something with everything and everyone. My view, which I have canvassed
for years, is that the man is a thoroughly mismanaged resource of Abia
State, Ndigbo and Nigeria. Some may even argue that Orji is the
one mismanaging himself, but we all know that it is the failure of
elders and a strong family culture that brings family matters to the
market place.
Prof. Chinua Achebe played host to
Governor Orji UzorKalu on his last birthday, before he passed on. It was
a quite, informal and yet very solemn occasion. More importantly, it
was the celebration of a friendship that has lasted for decades between
the two men. Orji’s goodwill, as well as his habit of religiously
travelling to wherever Achebe was at any time to spend his birthday with
him was always a given for Achebe. And it was also always one of the
most cherished elements of the latter’s birthday anniversary every year –
even until his very last birthday on earth. Achebe loved Orji and
repeatedly vouched for him as he has not vouched for many people
throughout his life.
The trouble with Orji Uzor Kalu, or at
least part of the trouble with him,is that he is an enigma in more ways
than one. He has the energy of several very active people put together.
This is sufficiently alarming on its own. His contacts, business girth
and political networks cannot be dismissed as an accident, as they are
simply too wide, too well structured, too well choreographed and too
effective to be the result of idleness. His understanding of politics
and power in Nigeria stands at the very cutting of the political economy
of power relations in a nation like ours. He has also always shied away
from the politics of appeasement and would boldly take the blows
arising therefrom - and without apologies.
The other week he was in far away Asia
telling the cream of the business world that Nigeria is the place to be.
He spoke like very few people have ever spoken in recent times about
the beauty and strength of the Nigerian economy, environment and people.
Orji spoke as a respected international businessman, among
international business peers (not the beggarly and dishonest ‘private
sector’). He challenged them with statistics about his investments and
that of others, pointing out the critical role of Nigeria in the
emerging new world economy. He spoke as a proud Nigerian and not as
someone doing a paid job about the image of his country. He was able to
silence many apparently informed commentators on Nigeria, who he exposed
as not knowing what they were talking about. And he did not speak like a
government functionary.
All of this took place at the
Progressive Harmony Development (PHD) Chambers, Delhi, India. Prime
Electric Group of India organized the forum and Orji Kalu used it to do
what our Diaspora platforms always do very badly, even after taking
money from government. A successful businessman can showcase
opportunities where others see limitations, contest the advertised image
of Nigeria and argue, convincingly, that anyone who ignores the
Nigerian market, business opportunities and its robust peoples and
culture is missing out on a most essential element of future world
development.
And who turned up recently to brief the
British House of Commons, Westminster, London, United Kingdom, if not
Orji UzorKalu! He spoke on “The historical plight and precarious future
of Igbo people,” to an audience that included members of the UK
parliament, diplomats,state officials and members of Njiko Ndigbo,
an organization he leads.The issue is not what he said, how he said it,
or where he said it. It is the fact that Orji’s capacity for legwork is
being allowed to run unharnessed by many who can make greater mileage
by keying into his capacities and working with him. I am certainly not
in on the 2015 Igbo Presidency Project of Njiko Igbo, but we must admit that Orji’s Njiko Igbo is filling a vacuum that Onaneze ndigbo
and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra
(MASSOB) cannot fill. Ohaneze appears content with gestural things and
speeches, while MASSOB suffers from the twin problems of (1) appearing
like a strong man who merely beats up his siblings and neighbours
without being available for wars other villages (ikena eke bauno) and (2) lack of political sophistication.
Someone may ask: “in what capacity did
Orji Kalu go to address the British House of Commons? Another may also
wonder why he should override Ohaneze and take up arms in defense of Ndigbo
outside Nigeria.Saying, “let us forget the troublesome fellow and face
more serious business”, can sum it all. But what is this serious
business? But we cannot deny the fact that Orji Kaluwas addressed the
British House of commons while those who wear the title of Igbo leaders
(and who are perpetually ‘threatening’ to save Ndigbo)did not?
As Orji Kalu is stimulating some serious thinking across several
political divides on the way forward for both Nigeria and Nidigbo,he
remains the only governor who never withheld any negative salvos from
President Obasanjo. Yethe still got everything he ever wanted from the
man (except Slok Air, of course) – because the latter respected his
forthrightness and also feared his value in Real Politik
Leadership involves being able ascertain
and deploy people’s abilities in their areas of strength. Like it or
not, Orji Kaluis an asset for which the right use must be found by Abia
State, Ndigbo and Nigeria. Otherwise none of his detractors
shall sleep at all. an element of his character can be seen in the fact
that he has been religiously propagating his views on leadership,
development and sundry human-interest issues via a newspaper column,
which many expected to die shortly after it was flagged off. Years after
he wrote the first column, it is still on. This is that strength of
character, resilience and never-say-die spirit that has bee the rue of
many of his enemies. He is the one who actually writes his columns,
unlike many in his position who would outsource it to a team of
scribbling researchers whose limited experience often saddles their
unsuspecting patron with strange postulations.
Orji Kalu has even taken his writing
further, as his Leadership Series has surfaced in another Newspaper;
where he rose in defense of the Aviation Minister and with a plea that
the new Minister of Power be protected from the syndicate of doom
undermining that vital sector. Hear him on Odua: “When Stella Oduah was
appointed Minister and assigned the Aviation portfolio some critics and
pessimists took rounds to malign and impugn her for no justifiable
reason. They likened her to a square peg in round hole. The misogynists
and chauvinists among the army of her critics painted a more pitiful
picture of her … describing her posting to the Ministry of Aviation as
‘misplaced’. They would have preferred the less visible ministry in
charge of women affairs or social development.”
The curious thing is that Orji Kalu
stepped down the column he had written for that week about his birthday,
to dwell on the matter of Odua and the Aviation sector. Hear his
reasons: “Those who know me are already familiar with the fact that it
is not in my character to praise people on the pages of newspaper. But I
could not resist it this time, since the criticism of this innocent,
hardworking woman has gone unchecked. One of the functions of the media
is to defend the weak and oppressed and give voice to the voiceless. At
least, it will enlighten the ignoramuses and place in proper perspective
the commendable job this woman is doing.”
Is there anything strange, or even
special about all of this? Not exactly, except that Orji Kalu somehow
always manages to have the presence of mind to focus on things rattle.
It was at the end of the piece that he added this pargraph: “Tomorrow is
my 53rd birthday. I thank God for his mercy and love upon me and my
family these past tortuous years. I pray him to continue to bless and
fortify me as I contribute my little quota to the development of our
great nation. I pray him also to bless our country Nigeria, which
currently immersed is in deep economic and political crises. I know at
his time Nigeria will experience a new dawn.”
Which brings us back to the matter of
what to do with (or about) Orji Uzor Kalu. He has carried on, and will
continue to carry on, as Ejinduemegini, and those saying,
“don't mind Orji Kalu” had better note that he might eventually be their
undoing. It is time to wake up to the reality of the current wretched
profile of Igbo politics and stop pretending that Orji can be easily
ignored.Let those who can, and who should, rise and make the best of an
Orji Uzor Kalu while they still can!
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