Kalu: Crux of issues in Abia

I am just reading the current edition (September 29, 2014) of TheNews magazine which has as its cover story “War of the Orjis” with the portraits of the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) and Governor Theodore Ahamefula Orji as emblazons. I must commend the publication for its professionalism in balancing their presentation by having both parties’ input. That is what journalism is all about—not mercantilism through sponsored advertorials couched and presented as an interview with a particular benefactor as intrepid ‘Insider Magazine’ does!

A fortnight ago, Dr. Kalu said he was not the problem of Abia. I want to tentatively disagree with my boss. The government of the state could not have spent almost eight years battling him if he was not giving the governor sleepless nights and therefore distracting him from concentrating on the arduous business of governing God’s Own State. Dr. Kalu unwittingly has become the central figure that looms largest in our state.

The present administration in Abia would be remembered most for their combativeness with the Kalu blossoming political empire than any legacy whatsoever. Nobody can talk about the tenure of Gov. Orji without unconscious reference to the enigmatic Kalu. Why is it so? It is so because more time is being spent in diminution of Kalu than in the good governance of the state. If I were the governor, I would have moved on these past seven-plus years confronting the serious challenges facing the 23-year-old state instead of dissipating energy and other official resources on battling the enfant terrible.

In the process of dismantling all that Kalu represents and holds dear, his successor has ended up amplifying his supranational popularity that is bursting at the seams! Now, the villain has become the saint as people wonder what could have strained their relationship and consequently end up sympathising with Kalu over the sour development. Of course, Dr. Kalu, on his part, too, will not allow sleeping dogs lie as he joins in the crossfire, against wise counsel by some of us at various levels. Indeed, if you ask me, I will candidly tell you that my principal is the reason Gov. Orji has not been at his best because he spends invaluable time, energy and fiduciary resources fighting his benefactor and predecessor. Matter-of-factly, the issues have been so muddled up that nobody seems to hold a grip on where it all started, how, when, why and the way out of the jaundice.

Issuing from the above, I hold my oga vicariously for the dearth of transformation in our state. But I am equally confused on grounds that Gov. Orji declares that he has liberated the state from “strangulating godfathers’ clutches” (couched reference to Kalu and his loyalists) and yet there are incomparable attainments with the liberation. I had thought that after the strenuous extrication, the state would become a miniature Dubai, at least. Alas, there is little or nothing to really cheer about in celebrative underpinning of the so-called freedom.

Therefore, I am inclined to equivocate on this matter. It is obvious then that Dr. Kalu truly may not really be the problem of the state. What then is responsible for its backwardness after 23 years of its creation? Is it that the military administrators that held sway before Dr. Kalu did not do anything in the state? Was it so bad that after Dr. Kalu took over in 1999 with Chief T. A. Orji as the man in charge and Kalu a figure-head, as it were, that everything the Orjis (no copyright apologies to TheNews!) did paled into insignificance? Is it a question of the pot calling the kettle black? What is the morality in Gov. Orji screaming to heavenly realms that Dr. Kalu did not achieve anything during his tenure when one and all know the person who was calling the tune in that regime: T. A. Orji for those who may not know? The nebulous intricacies defy any rationalization which was why I intimated to TheNews (as published) that only both men, at the opportune time, would let Nigerians into their crevices and cubicles of this landmark feud. If a third party uses his head to break this dry coconut by trying to unravel this unprecedented tiff, he will not be alive to drink its reconciliatory water.

My belated and genuine advice to Gov. Orji is to redeem the state as much as possible in the remaining months of his tour of duty by avoiding more needless acrobats with his erstwhile chummy. It would not be memorable to implant on Abians and Nigerians this cantankerousness that merely undermines good governance which the state direly needs at this critical period in its 23-year history. The state can move on without the crass criminalization and holistic demonization of a man that unambiguously has nothing to lose.

The collapse of social infrastructure in Abia today is directly proportional to the quantum of precious time and public funds expended on the futile invasion, otiose embarrassment and self-inflicting humiliation of one of the state’s shining political icons—a fact acknowledged even by the worst hypercritic and oppositional minions. Dr. Kalu is too hot to drop by the national leadership of the ruling party and Nigerians and too cold to behold. And that is why he is wrongly seen by the local wing of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State as an irritant fly on the scrotum or in the ointment: remove it and incur irredeemable wrath and leave it to your eternal damnation!

These inexplicably confounding dynamics were what made Dr. Okey Ikechukwu to dispassionately declare in his column sometime ago on the back page of THISDAY that Kalu is a flourishing asset with a superfluity of potentialities that is being mismanaged by those who should know better but because of selfish reasons that border on raucous antagonism and asininity!

Moving forward, there should be a reconstruction of the face-off between these men whose acrimonious posturing has undermined the renewal of

our state. Otherwise, the next governor may end up spending his own tenure grasping and reviewing the retrogressive and querulous template left by his two immediate predecessors. That will translate cumulatively to 24 unbroken years of waste in the life of a state!

I will end up this explication with a recent quote by Dr. Kalu: “I am ready to pay the bills for a financial audit of my administration so that the public will understand what the issues are in Abia State and be able to evaluate both administrations properly.” Who will take up the gauntlet?

 Now, who still does not know the problem of Abia? In case you do not know yet: leadership mediocrity—no longer “strangulating godfathers’ clutches” and other insinuative deductions by a coterie of famished errand boys who are more concerned with choking survivalist challenges than ethics or propriety. After all, in political warfare, propaganda by the establishment is acceptable and, if allowed, over time, takes the garb of the gospel truth!

At the risk of reiteration, Dr. Kalu is not and cannot be a problem in a state he contributed and still positively impacts immeasurably with a passion that surpasses spousal love for the entirety of fellow Abians, nay Nigerians. 

Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media advisor to Dr. Kalu.

Kalu not looking for popularity

The politics in Abia State is taking different dimensions by the day. Political demagogues and those in the corridors of power are doing everything, not only to criticize dissenters, but, also, to pummel their reputations.

One man that these gangsters called media aides of the government in Abia State have taken as a hobby to slur, because of his truthful standing and uprightness in highlighting what the government in the state has failed to do, is Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. The other day, they circulated their misleading treatise that the enigma known as Kalu was only criticizing the government in his home state of Abia for the sake of popularity.

I could not but laugh out tears from my eyes. I wondered which popularity they thought that Kalu was looking for when at the age of 19 he was already a millionaire and had headed many appointments before he was 27. Before 40, he had accomplished virtually everything that a man ought to accomplish on the mother earth.

I am still wondering which popularity they thought Kalu was looking for, when he is even popular than the sitting governor in Abia State: a governor that would not want to hear the voice of opposition political parties in the state.

The governor of Abia State would prefer to refer to them as defeated punch of old politicians. The Abia State government would also go to as far as describing politicians as moribund and ghost politicians, simple because they told truth to power.

It always seemed so ridiculous to me, that the government in Abia State would always take on Kalu in order to be popular, because Kalu has a name. But my surprise is that the government always picks its issues based on colour instead of taste.

No human being can drag Kalu down, except he permits to drag himself down. Kalu is one man who has self and the public. I remembered Kalu while reading one William S. Burroughs sometime ago. Burroughs tells us of the courage and zest some persons could have in the world.

Burroughs says, “I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it. My affections, being concentrated over a few people, are not spread all over Hell in a vile attempt to placate sulky, worthless shits.”

Perhaps, the government in Abia State is tackling Kalu because when you have only one fearless and sane person in a city, those who are insane look at him or her like the only insane person. The government in Abia State is today looking at Kalu as the only insane person in a state: where those who ought to speak out have compromised or cowed to chicken out.

I must say that between Kalu and the government in Abia State is like a book divided into two ranges: the book of the hours, and the book of all Time. Kalu is like the book of all Time, whereas the other is like the book of the hours.

Kalu remains a man of the people and can never look for popularity, because there are many deeds of his that have made him popular to the people of Nigeria and across the world. He does not desire to be famous, because he has numerous people he has affected their lives positively out there desirous to take his name to the West End if that was what the government in Umuahia meant by that slight, that Kalu was looking for popularity by telling truth to the saddle in Umuahia.

The government at Umuahia should stop making stupidity its companion and should stop growing tired and restless. Even though that the world over has known that it is government that is conceited and excels in matters which are unimportant, hence it has bitter bile in saying things that are not printable against the personality of Kalu. This government should remain shy since it cannot alleviate, but, alienate, the wellbeing of the Abia populace.

Olaniyi Olanike lives in Umuahia.

JONATHAN’S ADOPTION, IN THE INTEREST OF NIGERIANS- ORJI KALU

Former governor of Abia State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Orji Kalu, has described the party as the only brand that can guarantee the welfare of Nigerians.

He made this known while addressing a cross-section of PDP members
based in Guangzhou at the Sheraton Guangzhou, China, yesterday.

Kalu  who used the opportunity to commend President Jonathan’s efforts in tackling the security challenges facing the country, stated that the issue of Boko Haram has been politicized. He said, “We should desist from playing politics with issues of national concern. Everyone irrespective of political and religious divides should rise up to support the fight against terrorism in the interest of Nigeria. The country belongs to all”.

He praised the national leadership for inaugurating regional integration committees to reconcile aggrieved members of the party. In his words, “The initiative is timely and will take the party to greater heights. I pledge my personal, followers and supporters' support for genuine reconciliation in our great party, PDP”.

The former governor while praising  the National Executive Committee
(NEC) of the PDP for endorsing President  Jonathan as the presidential
candidate of the party in next year’s election, called on Nigerians both home and abroad to vote for President Jonathan in the 2015 election.

The meeting was attended by St. Martins Onyeabor, Chinonso

Kalu writes Abia PDP Reconciliation Committee

A former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday wrote to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reconciliation committee due to visit Abia State today. Kalu regretted that he would not be on ground to receive the team, as he was currently on a business trip to China. He said that had he been around, he would have personally welcomed the team; a decision he described as a laudable one by the party.

Kalu in a statement issued yesterday stated that setting up the committee to reconcile various contending interests round the country will go a long way in strengthening the ruling party before 2015 election.

He also urged PDP members across the country to close ranks and work in unity for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election. The statement reads in part: “It has just been brought to my attention that a reconciliation committee set up by our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be visiting Abia State today.

“I regret that this laudable initiative is taking place at a time I am outside the country, in far away China, on a business trip. It would have been my pleasure to welcome the reconciliation committee to our dear state, as one of the founding members of the party.

“I will like to state emphatically that having such committee to reconcile various contending interests round the country is the way to go. For President Goodluck Jonathan to have a landslide victory back to office after general elections next year, PDP must close ranks round the country.”

Kalu also pledged his support for reconciliation exercise in PDP not only in Abia State, but in all parts of the country where such is necessary.

“We need a cohesive front. As they say, the more the merrier. We do not need to antagonize any interest. In unity and cohesion, PDP will not only win the Presidency with ease, but as many gubernatorial and National Assembly seats as possible, round the country.

“I hereby pledge my support for the reconciliation exercise not only in Abia State, but in all parts of the country where such is necessary. I salute our party leaders past and present, and urge them to count on my support and goodwill at all times,” the former governor stated.

Kalu lauds Jonathan over PDP reconciliation committee

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has commended President, Goodluck Jonathan for setting up a committee to reconcile the warring factions in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The committee will visit Abia State today.

Kalu, who regretted that he would not be in his native Abia State today when the committee would be visiting, however, pledged his support for the committee not only in Abia State but in all the states of the federation, where the reconciliation effort would be adjudged necessary.

Speaking while in  far away China, Kalu said: “It has just been brought to my attention that a reconciliation committee set up by our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would be visiting Abia State tomorrow (today), Monday, September 22, 2014.

“I regret that this laudable initiative is taking place at a time I am outside the country, in far away China on a business trip. It would have been my pleasure to welcome the reconciliation committee to our dear state, as one of the founding members of the party.

I will like to state emphatically that having such committee to reconcile various contending interests round the country, is the way to go.

“For President Goodluck Jonathan to win landslide and return to office after the general elections next year, PDP must close ranks round the country. We need a cohesive front. As they say, the more the merrier. We do not need to antagonise any interest. In unity and cohesion, PDP will not only win the presidency with ease, but as many gubernatorial and National Assembly seats as possible around the country.

“I hereby pledge my support for the reconciliation exercise not only in Abia State, but in all parts of the country where such is necessary. I salute our party leaders past and present, and urge them to count on my support and goodwill at all times. Please be assured of my highest regards.”

Orji Kalu inside Channel TV Studio as he was being interviewed

 Orji Kalu inside Channel TV Studio as he was being interviewed

Why Old Aba zone should produce Abia governor –Orji Kalu

‘PDP is very strong brand’

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, believes that there will be a balance of terror between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. However, he assures that being a strong brand, the PDP will still emerge as the dominant party in the country after the election. In this interview in Lagos on his way overseas, the eminent businessman spoke on various is­sues, including the politics of Abia State ahead of next year’s general elections. Excerpts:

As a stakeholder in politics, what is your reaction to opponents, who are bent on putting wedge to your active participation in activities of the ruling PDP?There is nothing like people being jittery over my return to the PDP. This is ably so because the taste of the pudding is in the eating. I have been back to the PDP since 2012, January 16. Why anybody should be making noise, I do not know, possibly because they think the tiger is back. It is gone out of the cage and back to the street.

Nobody should be jittery, we are planning for the good of the party, we are the found­ing members. Even people sitting down there calling themselves officials of the party are not the foundation members of the party. Some of them were in the All Nigerian Peoples Party, I can call them by names. They have never been here but we brought them back to the party. And it is the constitutional right of anybody to belong to any party he or she likes. So, nobody should be worried that I am back to the PDP. This should not be an issue.

I want to advise the Governor of Abia State, Chief Thoedore Orji, to use the resources pro­vided through the federation account and the funds generated locally for the development of the people of Abia State. The governor should stop running from pillar to post. I am not the problem of Abia State. I cannot be a problem for the people I love. I love people of Abia State; they love me and I maintain that love for them. The only question I am ask­ing the governor of Abia State is to rule our people in Abia with his conscience. And his conscience is not there.

Why is the Government of Abia State throwing mud at you in media reports apparently comparing the achievements of your eight-year tenure in the state with the current administration?

I have stated this very clearly in a television interview that I am ready to pay the bill for a financial audit of my administration and the current one so that the public would under­stand what the issues are.I am ready to pay 50 per cent of the cost of such audit while the state government will pay the remaining 50 per cent for a thorough audit to be carried out on the finances and expendi­ture of the state.

We can invite reputable audit firms, includ­ing Est & Young , KPMG, Delloite & Tou­ché  Price Water  Copper House to carry out the audit so that the truth would be straight­ened. This is how a civilised society works; not throwing mud at people, who had served their people meritoriously. This is because I do not see any reason anybody should lie to the whole nation. It is not right. I am ready to sponsor many professional groups, including the NBA, NUJ, NGE, and others to go into Abia State to carry out investigations, serious on-the-spot assessment of what is happening there. Abia State has become a gutter.

In fact, the governor is a savage. I call him a savage because I do not think he has con­science. Go and check the dictionary meaning of savage. That would buttress my point.

If he has conscience and is worried about the future of his children, he will not be toiling with the lives and property of the people of Abia State.

At the national level of PDP, you have been playing some reconciliation roles to bring back aggrieved members of the party into the national fold ahead of the re-election of the incumbent president in 2015. What has informed this?

I am not bothered about those in my state who are getting petty by throwing spanners into the works of the party. They should leave these things; they are petty and I do not look at such things. If we allow Abia State to re­main the way it is currently, PDP will not win election there. That is the truth. Let nobody deceive you; that is the truth.

I challenge the Director General of State Security Services; I call on him to send his intelligence officials to report back to the president what is happening in Abia State.

The governor has collected so far in the last seven years over one trillion Naira from the Federal and Allocation Accounts Committee. We have the data of how much the state gets from federal allocation. We will provide this data at the appropriate time. He cannot go free by toiling with the lives and process of democracy. When I was governor between 1999 to 2007, we got about N108 billion for those eight years. But the current governor in seven years has collected over one trillion Naira from the Federation Account.

I am not the issue in Abia State. The gov­ernor thinks so. Why must you be under one man, instead of developing the state? He said I told him not to develop the state. Instead, he has proven himself wrong. He said I asked him not to eat food; he has proven himself wrong. If a pregnant woman is sick today in Abia, the governor says it is I. If anybody has headache, he says it is I.

During the kidnap saga in Abia State, he nearly wanted to implicate me. The governor asked one of the service chiefs to go and put guns in my house so that they would arrest me that I was the one responsible for kidnap­ping people. The man told him I could not do a thing like this. And this is a statement of fact. So, can you see the man; has he got conscience?

When I was handing over as governor, I told him to rule the people of Abia with his conscience. So, I think the mediocrity should stop, proper governance should take place. This is not how to govern a state. The governor has excuse for everything. Aba is a waterside. I do not even know what the journalists are doing.

The 2015 project for President Goodluck Jonathan is on course, with the collection of signatures and endorsement rallies; what are the chances for his re- election?

Those who are even looking for the president’s job are not better than he. They are not fitter to handle the task of the office. The people are not better than Jonathan. I believe also the ruling party is a strong brand. Unfortunately, some of my brothers from the South-east have been blowing hot and cold.  The truth of the matter is that Igbo can­not make themselves president. Neither Ijaw nor Yoruba can become president without the support of other tribes and other Nigerians.They will need the assistance of other people in other geo-political zones to actualise their ambition.

I believe that the principle of rotation of power is good to balance the power equation in Nigeria. I strongly believe that rotation has made many zones become president of Nige­ria. The same rotation should also make Igbo people president. We cannot at anytime we are getting to the goal post to score count our­selves out. The Igbo must support Jonathan, to be able to support ourselves in the future.So, the PDP cannot remove zoning. Zoning is essential for the presidency to go through all the zones.

After the tenure of Jonathan, the two zones that have not produced a president for Nigeria are South-east and North-east geo – political zones. We must get the rotation of the office of the president to these two zones, then we can stop it. That is the only way to ensure equity and justice. Later, we can talk about merit. It is only when these two zones are well represented that we can now remove zoning.

I can see some of my brothers, saying zoning is no longer necessary because they belong to different political parties. That is not true; it is only in their party. In our party, the PDP, zoning is an essential ingredient for the democratic process and growth of our party to stabilise the system  and institutions.

Could the crisis in Abia PDP jeop­ardise the chances of Jonathan in 2015?

No, Abia State remains one of the backbone states of the PDP. That is why the president is a very lucky man; he stands by me and Orji.

All of us are in PDP. The president is standing on two sides of the Atlantic. People will listen to us. Whatever the governor of Abia State cannot bring on the table for the president, I will bring. That is why democracy is very good.

It is going to be a win-win situation for the president. That is why the PDP umbrella is very strong, it can cover many people under it.

What is your take on the zoning structure in Abia State, concerning where the next governor should come from?

This is very simple,  looking at it from the point of morality , the next governor of the state should come from old Aba zone. This is because you cannot tell any Ngwa man that because of zoning, you will exclude him. It is not possible. Isiala Ngwa  Local Government, both North and South, is the head of Ngwa, you cannot exclude them in gubernatorial race. I am not saying anybody from Abia North or the governor’s village cannot run but has such a candidate got the morality to win the election.

That is the issue; it is a matter of morality; that is where it stands. So, morally, the old Aba zone stands the chance of winning the election, unless they miss the goal post, if they cannot score the goal. That does not mean that people from my area, Abia North cannot run if they want to run. Whenever the office is zoned to Abia North, everybody would want to run. People from other areas can run. I can­not tell my own people not to run.

How is the campaign for Jonathan 2015 race?

Now that we are fully back in the party, we will work for Jonathan. I do not want to discuss governors of the South-east but  I can assure you that the South-east will mobilise for Jonathan . We will make Jonathan work for the South-east. He is going to work for people of the South-east; that is the game plan. Jonathan would do things that impact on the people of South-east but the unfortunate thing is that the Imo State governor, is in the wrong party at the wrong time. I do not want to discuss Governor Rochas Okorocha and I am very sincere about this. I can assure you that PDP will win landslide in Imo State. We will be in the front burner of that campaign.

Okorocha made  a mistake; he could have stayed back in his party and that would have brightened his chances of re-election. Where he is now, the APC, will be zero per cent. Okorocha is in the wrong party at the wrong time.

What does Orji Kalu want for 2015 ?

I want stability of the country, which is good for business. As a stakeholder in the Nigerian project, stability is very important. Stability is the best thing in any democracy. I run a business with a very large balance sheet; stability of the country is good for business. If I run a business with a very large balance sheet, I need stability to push the business to the next level. I need stability to further the growth of my company, the Slok Group. I have just returned to active business in the last six years and from the time I came back to the business, I have moved the company out of Africa. I have moved the business from about $2.4 billion to about $3.6 billion   in balance sheet, that is in the last few years.

I want to move it further to grow the bal­ance sheet from the current figures.

I want to grow the business by, at least, ten per cent in the next few years. If there is stability, the balance sheet will grow.

I have the constitutional right to seek any office. I will consult my God and all the stakeholders before I take a position that will be made public. By the time the party starts primaries, I will make my position known. I am bold enough to run for any office.

What about insecurity in Nigeria?

I have told stakeholders that we all need to rally round the government to maintain national stability, otherwise Jonathan might be the last president of Nigeria. If the stakehold­ers do not come out to help Jonathan, there may be problem. Jonathan is not the owner of this country. The highest time he could stay in office is another four years, terminating in 2019. He will go, just like former presidents and heads of state, Shagari, Babangida, Go­won and Obasanjo; they all came and went. I have a stake in the Nigerian economy. As a businessman with the lives of many people in our hands, that is why we, who are in business and industry, will pursue peace and national stability.

We have more stake in Nigeria than politi­cal leaders, be they presidents of heads of state. So, we will not allow that to happen. Instability is not good for us, it is not good for the nation, its economy and politics. It is not good for the system.

Many European countries are coming together, why can’t we build a United Nigeria.Why do we need to disintegrate, why do we want problem for Nigeria? We need peace, I want to tell you, thorough negotiation is going on in Chad because of the insurgency of Boko Haram. The negotiation is between a delegation of private sector players with the government of Chad.

The whole idea is to forge a common front to deal with the challenge of insecurity and Boko Haram.

We do not what the insurgency. It must go.

That is why people who are blaming President Jonathan on his relationship with the former Borno State governor, Senator Alli Modu Sheriff are naive.

The president of Nigeria has a right to travel with anybody he desires. Even if that person is in prison, the president can take the person out of prison, if the purpose is for a good cause. People should talk about Nigeria and not Jonathan. It is not Jonathan’s country but our country. It is just the naivety of Nigerians that is making the system porous and backward. Nigerians do not even know what their rights are. The president can carry anybody in his aircraft. Whether he travelled with Modu Sherrif or not is for the good of the country.

The PDP is coming back strong, what is the mechanism that weakens opposition, how did this happen?

We just have in PDP a strong national chairman. His brand is very strong. He has been calling everybody.He has been visiting politicians in their homes, reaching out to different people. Even, the former national chairman, Bamanga Tukur,  did many things to bring the party together. But, there is advan­tage in the young age of Adamu Muazu. He is free with people, bringing people together into the PDP family. He is a game changer, and will continue to change the game. Nobody should be afraid of the new national executive of the PDP.

We forget our history; some of us have made sacrifice in this party and democracy. Some of us have made sacrifice for this coun­try. I lost entire business, I lost a bank where I owned 70 per cent, I mean Hallmark  Bank; I lost my operating licence in Slok Airlines to the democratic struggle. One aircraft commit­ted an offence in Enugu and entire 14 aircraft fleet was grounded. Let us presume the pilot committed an offence, that was not enough for the government to ground the airline. It was political witch hunting; people  tried to cut my head off but my head still stands.

Even People, who want to take over power from PDP are not better.  It is the same thing.They are not going to do anything better than PDP. The PDP is bouncing back strong. I see the mechanism of PDP to come back very soon. What we need to do is to strengthen our laws. The only problem is that we have weak institutions. We need to strengthen the institu­tions  that guide democracy . This is important because the institutions that guide democracy are all weak.

The Police, INEC, the judiciary, the State Security Services; they are all very weak. When you have a weak process, you cannot have anything strong.

Let us go back to one man, one vote. Any how you do it, whether one man one vote or otherwise, PDP will win. This is because the brand is very strong. But, this is the very first time in Nigerian political system where there is going to be balance of terror. PDP should not think it is all easy and rosy. This is the first time that other parties will have money to pay all their party agent. APC can afford it now. And the PDP is aware of this. Because of what is going on in the party, the national chairman has set up zonal integration com­mittee to reconcile all aggrieved members to the party.

When I see some political touts, dictating that they want this man or not in the party, I laugh and see them as fools. The major ingredient of political parties is human beings. Political party is a gathering of everybody. I believe our democracy should take a firm root. I am not saying PDP must win election; if we do not merit to win, we will lose. We need to work hard because the day is coming when political leaders will give account of their stewardship to the people.

You are travelling around the world to shop for investors in Nigeria; how soon should we expect the dividends?

Very soon, the Slok Group is rolling out the first ever indigenously made mobile phone, called Slok Mobile. It is a phone we have built to be sold in Nigeria and across Africa. I am rolling out the Slok Telephone in less than eight weeks’ time. We will have the lowest end of the mobile phone market. The Slok Telephone has all the packages of a mod­ern phone;  it is going to be a utility phone, that Nigerians have been looking for. We are a truly an African company but proudly Nigerian. So, this is what is coming on board in the next nine weeks. The phones will be on the streets of Nigeria. We are going to roll out the phones in Nigeria, Congo, Guinea, South Africa and other African markets. The phone has patent right in the United States and other countries as well as Europe. This is the first time a Nigerian conglomerate will be rolling out a phone to take over the market.

Collapsed building: Kalu mourns with Synagogue Church

Former governor of Abia State and Chairman/Publisher of The Sun Newspapers, Dr. Orji Kalu, yesterday joined millions of Nigerians to mourn the death of over 50 persons in a collapsed building belonging to Synagogue Church for All Nations in Lagos.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Dr. Kalu noted “with tremendous concern and sorrow,” the tragic foundation collapse at the popular church.

The eminent businessman, in the statement, which he personally signed, urged that should any foul play be involved in the collapsed church building as being insinuated, those behind it should face the law.

His words: “While the root cause of the collapse has yet to be determined, should any foul play be found as has been suggested, let the perpetrators be brought to justice swiftly and accordingly.

“Until more is gathered, our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the fallen. To those injured, we wish you a speedy recovery and a return to your chosen place of reverence in the immediate term.”

Kalu revealed that he recently visited Pastor T.B. Joshua and attested that the, “religious domicile of which he founded, served and no doubt will continue to serve as a safe haven for Nigeria’s diverse multitude of citizens, those from all walks of life.” The former governor noted that people from distinct ethnicities, cultures, tribal allegiances and creeds would again be granted a place of solemn worship and together engage in joyful celebration in the working of the Lord.

Uzor Kalu Blasts Theodore Orji Over Financial Misappropriation

Former Governor of Abia State, Chief Uzor Kalu, yesterday said that he was not the problem of Abia State and that he was ready for financial audit of his administration.

Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Chief Kalu said he is aware that he was accused of financial misappropriation during his tenure as Governor, noting that he was ready for a financial audit to be conducted on his administration and the current administration, so that the public would understand what the issues are.

He said "I am ready to pay fifty per cent of the cost of such audit, why the state government will pay the remaining fifty percent for a thorough audit to be carried out on the finances and expenditure of the state.

We can invite reputable audit firms like Est & Young, KPMG, Dellloite & Touché Price Water Copper House ,to carry out the audit so that the truth would be straightened.

This is how a civilised society works. Not throwing mud at people who have served their people meritoriously"

"This is because I do not see any reason why anybody should lie to the whole nation.

It is not right. I am ready to sponsor many professionals groups including the Nigerian Bar Association, NUJ, Nigerian Guild of Editors, and others to go into Abia State to carry out investigations, serious on the spot assessment of what is happening there. Abia State has become a gutter" he added.

The Former Governor however called on GovernorTheodore Orji to use the resources provided through the federation account and the funds generated internally for the development of the people of Abia State but added that he sees the current Governor as a savage.

"In fact, the governor is a savage. I call him a savage because, I do not think he has conscience. Go and check the dictionary meaning of savage. That would buttress my point. If he has conscience and is worried about the future of his children, he will not be toiling with the lives and property of the people of Abia State" Kalu said.

According to him, If Abia State is allowed to remain the way it is now, PDP will not win election there noting that since assumption of office, the Governor has collected over one trillion naira from the Federal and Allocation Accounts Committee in the last seven years which cannot be justified with the level of work done in the state.

He said "We have the data of how much the state gets from federal allocation. We will provide this data at the appropriate time. He cannot go free by toiling with the lives and process of democracy.

When I was governor between 1999 to 2007, we got about one hundred and eight billion Naira for that eight years.

But the current governor in seven years has collected over one trillion Naira from the federation account."

Kalu Insists On Rotational Presidency

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has made a case for rotational presidency stating that the principle of rotation of power would enable the equation of power in Nigeria.

The governor, who spoke to journalists in Lagos yesterday said, “I believe that the principle of rotation of power is good to balance the power equation in Nigeria. I strongly believe that rotation has made many zones become president of Nigeria. The same rotation should also make Igbo people president, even as he called the igbos to support the efforts of President Jonathan for reelection.

“So, the PDP cannot remove zoning. Zoning is essential for the presidency to go through all zones”, he said, adding that after the tenure of Jonathan, the two zones that have not produced a president for Nigeria is South – East and North – East geo – political zones, stressing that “We must get the rotation of the office of the president to these two zones, then we can stop it.That is the only way to ensure equity and justice.

On the issue of electing a President based on merit, Kalu said it would be possible if all parts of the country has benefitted from the principle of rotation.

His words, “Later we can talk about merit. It is only when these two zones are well represented that we can now remove zoning. I can see some of my brothers saying zoning is no longer necessary, because they belong to different political party. That is not true, it is only in their party.

“In our party, the PDP, zoning is an essential ingredient for the democratic process and growth of our party to stabilise the system and institutions .

On the crisis in Abia PDP and its chances of jeopardising the chances of Jonathan becoming President in 2015, Orji said, “Abia State remains one of the backbone states of the PDP. That is why the president is very lucky man, he stands by me and Orji. All of us are in PDP. The president is standing on two sides of the Atlantic. People will listen to us. Whatever the governor of Abia State cannot bring on the table for the president I would bring. That is why democracy is very good .It is going to be a win win situation for the president .That is why the PDP umbrella is very strong, it can cover many people under it.”

On his continued battle with the ruling governor of Abia state, he said he was ready to sponsor any audit firm invited to audit the accounts of the state while he was the governor of the state.

His words, “I have stated this very clearly in television interview that in am ready to take, I mean pay the bill for a financial audit of my administration and the current one, so that the public would understand what the issues are .
“I am ready to pay fifty per cent of the cost of such audit, while the state government will pay the remaining fifty percent for a thorough audit to be carried out on the finances and expenditure of the state.

“We can invite reputable audit firms including Est & Young , KPMG, Dellloite & Touché Price Water Copper House ,to carry out the audit so that the truth would be straightened.This is how a civilised society works. Not throwing mud at people who have served their people meritoriously.

I am not the problem of Abia State – Kalu

Former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has called on  the incumbent governor of the state, Chief Theodore  Orji to  re-direct his energy towards the

development of the state rather than continuously hold his government (which lasted from 1999 to 2007) responsible for whatever political and socio-economic setbacks the state is currently experiencing.

Kalu, who spoke with aviation correspondents in Lagos said it had become so important for him to speak up on the poor governance and the degenerating state of infrastructure in Abia State given recent attacks on his person by the incumbent government which tended to create the impression or perception to the public that he was responsible for all the noticeable flaws or crisis in the state and hence should not barred from functioning effectively in the affairs of the PDP in Abia State.

According to Kalu, available data showed that monthly revenue allocation from the federation account and other internally generated revenue had increased tremendously in the last seven years and he estimates the total earnings for the incumbent government at over N1trillion, enough money to have transformed the economy of the state with positive impacts on the state of infrastructure and the lives of its citizens.

“I am not the problem of Abia State,” Kalu said.

“And I cannot be a problem for the same people that I love so much. The only question I am asking the governor of  Abia State  and which I have not stopped asking  him is that he should rule our people in Abia with his conscience.

“What the governor has collected so far in the last seven years is over N1trillion Naira from the Federal and Allocation Accounts Committee. We have the data of how much the state gets from federal allocation. When I was governor between 1999 to 2007, we got about  N108billion (one hundred and eight billion Naira) for that eight years .

“But the current governor in seven years has collected over one trillion Naira from the federation account So when he goes and builds a house and paint it  and tell the whole world how much he has spent he does know that we have the data . The entire project he has embarked upon so far is not up to N6 billion. Not what he is showing to the people in the papers. And we will provide this data at the appropriate time. He cannot go free by toiling with the lives and process of democracy in Abia State.

Why must you focus all your attention and energy on one man, instead of developing the state? Why? I am not the issue in Abia State. But the governor thinks so.

“The governor has excuses for everything. I have to speak up. I think the whole mediocrity should stop, proper governance should take place. This I not how to govern a state and its people,” Kalu stated.

The former Abia State governor said he was ready to subject his eight years administration to an audit by any reputable global audit firm to end all allegations bothering on how he administered the state during his tenure.

“I am ready to also pay the bills for a financial audit of my administration, so that the public would understand what the issues are in Abia state and be able to evaluate the two administrations properly,” said Kalu.

“In fact, I am ready to pay fifty per cent of the cost of such an audit, and let the state government pay the remaining fifty percent so that we can carry out a thorough audit on the finances and expenditure of the state.

“Abia State has become a gutter. The evidence is there.  That would buttress my point. So I don’t particularly see any reason why anyone who does not have the right facts should decided to lie against another person.

“We will invite reputable audit firms including Ernst & Young, KPMG,  Akintola Dellloite & Touch, PriceWaterHouse Copper,  just any reputable audit firm to carry out the audit so that the truth would be straightened . I think that is how a civilized society works if it seeks to know the truth.  Not throwing mud at people who have served their people meritoriously like I did,” he added.

There will be balance of power in 2015 –Orji Kalu

Former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor-Kalu, has pre­dicted a balance of power between the nation’s two major political parties in next year’s general elec­tions.

Speaking yesterday, on Channels Television pro­gramme, “Politics Today,” he said even though other parties existed in the coun­try, the contest for power would be by the dominant party, the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) and the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former governor and business mogul also said he was fully back to the PDP despite efforts by those afraid of him to resist his rejoining the ruling party, which he was one of the founding members.

He assured that the PDP would win the 2015 gen­eral elections in view of its strength and internal mecha­nism for settling disputes among members.

Dr. Orji noted that Dr.Goodluck Jonathan be­came the country’s President through the will of God, say­ing that he has the right also to seek re-election in 2015.

The former governor said he was back to the PDP be­cause as a founding member, he would not leave the party for anybody.

He said some people were already afraid of his coming back to the party, which he co-founded with other lead­ing members of the PDP.

Dr. Kalu berated the Abia State Governor, Chief T. A Orji, for not meeting the expectations of people of the state in terms of delivery of democracy dividends.

He cautioned that if there is election in Abia State to­day, the PDP might be in trouble because of the per­formance of the governor.

His words: “Go to Aba and Umuahia and you would see that there is nowhere to pass. Let the governor stop ruling the state based on pro­paganda. Every infrastruc­ture in Abia State has gone down. Let us tell ourselves the truth.

“He was my Chief of Staff. Go to our state now, nobody can freely come out. You use security agencies and thugs to harass every­body. Last week a Senator was nearly killed in the state.

“I do not know what went wrong with Orji because the time I supported him to be governor of Abia State, it was the right decision. Eigh­teen months after his elec­tion, I called him privately to identify our major problems in the state. If Governor Orji is an honest man, he would tell people that I said so.

“I told him then that he could no longer do this job. When he was quarreling with Onyema Ugochukwu and others, they brought a paper to me that he bor­rowed over N11 billion; I called his Commissioner for Finance and asked him what they were doing with that kind of money.

“When he borrowed, he did not even inform the state executive council, he bor­rowed from multiple banks.”

Kalu: Why I back Jonathan for 2015

A former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday explained that he is backing President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015, because it is the president’s constitutional right to seek for a second term. Kalu, who spoke last night on Channel’s Television programme, Politics Today, also disclosed the South-East geo-political zone where he hails from, will not be contesting the 2015 presidency, as Jonathan, who is from the South-South is entitled to second term like other past presidents of Nigeria. According to him, the zone will rather throw its weight behind the President in 2015, and wait till 2019.

“2015 is not the turn of the Igbo because Jonathan is entitled to a second term like other past presidents. After Jonathan’s tenure in 2019, the Igbo will sit down with our brothers from the North and discuss what next,” he said. Kalu assured that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the 2015 presidential election, even as he commended the rotational arrangement by the party, saying the party has used it to stabilize the country.

His words: “The PDP will win the 2015 elections. There may be internal wrangling, but the PDP franchise is very strong, and any presidential candidate the party fields will definitely win the election.” Speaking on the fight against insurgency, he commended President Jonathan for his efforts so far, adding that the Federal Government was doing all it needs to do to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

Kalu who refrained from speaking on the administration of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, stated that he would write about the governor and the state in his Leadership Series, as a case point for students of history.

He acknowledged that though he made it possible for Orji to emerge as governor of the state, he said something went wrong along the line, and that roads in Abia State have become impassable, even as he lamented that thugs reign supreme in the state, harassing innocent citizens. The former governor stated that every fight he ever had with former President Olusegun Obasanjo was because he stood on the side of the people, for what was right.

According to him, even though his businesses were grounded by the Obasanjo administration, he still fought for the right and good of the people. Kalu also commended the recommendation for creation of additional state in South-East. His words: “I think the most important state to be created is the one out of South-East.

The South- East delegation to the National Conference led by Gen Ike Nwachukwu fought for it and they got it approved by almost all the members of the conference. I think that should be in the front burner now for that state to be created in South-East, so that we can have justice because justice is everything that is holding the country on the ground.

“If you want to talk truly about Nigeria, you have to first give South-East the one state as a matter of urgency. The South-East needs the state more than any other parts of Nigeria because every other geopolitical zone has six states and another seven states. That is not justice.”