KALU EXTOLS GOWON'S VIRTUES

Eminent business mogul and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has congratulated former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd),as he turns 80 on Sunday.
 
The former governor while extolling the virtues of General Gowon acknowledged the exemplary leadership qualities of the elder statesman.
 
Kalu, in his tribute to General Gowon captioned "GO ON WITH ONE NIGERIA", noted that General Gowon's administration laid the foundation of an indivisible Nigeria.
 
The tribute reads:"There is only one leader whose name has been turned into an acronym for national unity and cohesion.  He is General (Dr) Yakubu Gowon.  His last name, during his time in office, was interpreted to mean: GO ON WITH ONE NIGERIA (GOWON)”.
 
“And how fitting the acronym was.  For it was under Gen Gowon that Nigeria fought a gruelling 30 months' civil war that had the potential of breaking the country to pieces.  But through deft nationalistic leadership, Gowon took Nigeria through the war, and at the end, declared "No Victor, No Vanquished".  He also affirmed the 3 Rs, standing for Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.  There is no way the history of Nigeria would be written without Gen Gowon being given his due.”

“As he turns 80, what can I do than to thank God for the life of this great man?  He got into power at a youthful age, held that power with maturity and decency for nine years, and today, almost 40 years after, he is still serving the country with his wealth of knowledge, offering worthy advice to the younger generation.

“To our dear Gen Yakubu Gowon, I’ll just say as he turns 80: please, Go On With One Nigeria.”
 
As the celebrant marks his 80th birthday, Kalu prayed God to grant General Gowon excellent health in his service to God and humanity.

2015: Kalu Urges Jonathan To Retain Sambo

ORMER Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to buckle under pressure to drop Vice President Alhaji Namadi Sambo as his running mate when he declares to seek re- election In 2015.

This is just as the former governor has picked his nomination form to run for Abia North Senatorial seat  under the platform of the PDP.

He described those pushing for the dropping of Sambo as political jobbers who are only out to create disaffection in the seat of power.

He said those routing for other persons as running mate for the president are the enemy of the ruling party.

Kalu said dropping the vice president would amount to a disincentive for the loyalty Sambo has demonstrated as a good deputy and ally who is not ambitious to rock  the boat .

  Speaking in an interview Friday on his departure  to overseas at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Kalu dismissed insinuations making the round that Jonathan was buckling under pressure in some quartets to consider the governor of Katsina , Alhaji Ibrahim Shema , the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ), Alhaji Adamu Muazu or the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido as his running mate .

  Kalu said :” Considering the good working relationship between the duo of President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo, the wise thing is to allow the same team fly the party flag.

  “Not only that Sambo has been loyal to the president, he has also supported and added value to the transformation agenda of the present administration.

  “In order to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in government, the president gave a mandate for the vice president to oversee some government agencies and technical committees for which, Sambo has performed credibly well. In addition, he has also contributed to the party especially by maintaining peace and unity in PDP especially in the North.”

KALU COMMISERATES WITH ALAMIEYESEIGHA

Eminent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, yesterday, expressed shock over the death of Oyamuyefa, son of first civilian governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
The young Alamieyeseigha died on Sunday in Dubai.
Kalu in a condolence message signed by his special adviser, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, said: "I was deeply pained when I heard the news of the untimely death of Oyamuyefa. It is devastating considering the age of the deceased. The young boy who had a bright future died in his prime but who are we to question God. My prayer and thoughts are with the deceased's loved ones and family at this sad moment”.

The former governor urged Chief Alamieyeseigha to take faith as God has a reason for every action.

Kalu prayed God to give the Alamieyeseighas the fortitude to bear the sad loss and grant the departed a peaceful rest.

In the same vein, Kalu has described Chief Tayo Akpata, a former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Trust Fund, as an elder statesman and philanthropist whose death is a big loss to the nation.

Chief Akpata, Ima of Benin kingdom, died on Monday at his Ikoyi, Lagos, residence.

Kalu noted that Akpata was a respected leader who died at a time his wealth of wisdom was much needed in his community and the nation at large.

In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Chief Akpata. He was a forthright and selfless leader, who contributed immensely to nation-building in different capacities. He lived an accomplished life worthy of emulation”.



Kalu admonished the family of the deceased to take solace in the fact the he left behind a good legacy for them to uphold.

The former governor, while commiserating with the deceased's family, Benin traditional council and Edo State government, prayed God to grant the departed eternal rest.

DR. ORJI UZOR KALU - A CHEERFUL GIVER

 Kalu’s spirit of giving makes me remember a statement by an anonymous, which says that smiling in your brother’s face is an act of charity, so is enjoining good and forbidding evil, giving directions to the lost traveller, aiding the blind and removing obstacles from the path.
 Dr. Kalu also depicts the passage by Maya Angelou, which says that when we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. Permit me to say that this dude from Igbere and, by extension Igbo extraction, is a cheerful giver.
 Apart from the magnanimous donations he has made to his people of Igbere, Kalu is also bent on handling adversity and assisting Nigerians in the Diaspora to succeed in their different fields of business, by ensuring that they secure loans from his banks to efficiently run their businesses.
 Kalu does not walk in the darkness of destructive selfishness like most people that are in his status. As a way of assisting some of us in Conakry, Guinea, where I reside doing business, Kalu imports goods worth millions of dollars and distributes to us without collecting initial capital in order to seeing that we prosper.
 Even though that it was said that he is the fourth richest persons in Nigeria and among the fifty richest Africans, one thing that sets Kalu aside is that he is a humble person. He has done much and is still doing, to assist humanity, not minding the tribe the person comes from.
 I must say that Kalu is one of those that if they die tommorrow, will never die out, because he has been doing things for people, who can never repay him. Many Nigerians who are trapped in the Diaspora and had no means of coming back home are today proud marketers of batteries, tyres and lubricants, Brake pads, candles, wall tiles, vegetables and many others that Kalu imports and shares among them to sell (without asking for initial capital), as a means of fostering them not to waste and die like a church rat in overseas.
 In the case where any Nigerian he meets abroad does not want to trade, Kalu makes sure that the Nigerian is engaged in a meaningful means of livelihood. Others use his company’s name to import goods worth billions of naira, without him asking for rewards.
 As if Mahatma Gandhi had Kalu at heart when he said that the simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer; Kalu shows worry whenever a Nigerian is arrested abroad, apart from his immeasurable benevolence.

 I remember in 2012, when it was reported that in Brazil alone, some 457 Nigerians were languishing in prisons for various offences, Kalu wept like a baby before many of us. He has great passion for Nigeria and Nigerians and has often warned that people should eschew crime and corruption in any environment they found themselves.
 Kalu has taught me through his actions that the best enjoyed moments in human existence are those filled with the spirit of giving. He does not want any Nigerian to be a failure to Nigeria, even though some persons may perceive the leadership of Nigeria at different levels, as a failure.
 Kalu does not want Nigerians in the Diaspora to lack confidence, will-power, political adulthood and resoluteness to change the status quo in any countries they are. Kalu immensely votes into human development and has immeasurably transformation agenda for any Nigerian at home and in the Diaspora.
He, in earnest, practices communalism knowing that capitalism has failed the world; he wants every Nigerian to be involved in the day to day administration of self-realisation. It is my prayer that his God should continue to give him the strength and life and resources to do more.
Nwabueze Jonathan Emenike is of JONATEC Auto Supply International, Guinea. Tel:+224664640657

R.I.P. PASTOR DIMGBA IGWE

The Publisher Sun Newspaper Dr Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) Chief Ekeoma and the family of late Dimgba Igwe the Deputy Chairman Sun Publishing at the burial of the iconic writer, publisher, preacher and motivational speaker in his country home Igbere, Abia State. On going.


The wife and children of the later vice chairman of Sun Publishing Pastor Dimgba Igwe at the burial ceremony in igbere

HE Dr Orji Kalu delivering his tribute to the late Pastor Dimgba Igwe at the burial ceremony in igbere

Sallah: Kalu harps on national unity

Eminent business­man and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has felicitated with the Muslim com­munity all over the world on the 2014 Eid -el- Kabir celebration.
The former governor, who described the Sallah season as a period of spiri­tual re-dedication, called on Nigerians to pray for the country.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “It is with joy that I join our Muslim brothers and sisters in celebrating yet another Eld -el – Kabir. This special season calls for sober re­flection as individuals and as a nation. Nigeria needs prayer and there is no other time to do this than now, let’s keep praying for the country’s leadership”.

He added that religious tolerance and mutual re­spect among all tribes and religions is key to peaceful co-existence and unity of Nigeria. “We must con­tinue to show love, broth­erhood and togetherness in the interest of our dear country”, he declared, add­ing: “I salute our religious and spiritual leaders who have continued to cham­pion peaceful co-existence among all religions.”

Kalu, while wishing the Muslim ummah a hitch-free celebration, called on them to extend the good­will of the season to friends in other religions.

Nigeria undergoing economic revitalisation, says Kalu

Former Governor of Abia State and business mogul, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has said Nigeria is undergoing an intricate, but highly visible period of socio-economic revitalization.
He said the nation is far from the pariah state many in the international community would believe.
In a statement issued yesterday and entitled: “Potential for an up­swing: Nigeria celebrates Indepen­dence at 54”, he urged the citizenry to show a resiliency that has defined the nation since independence.

He noted that in the eyes of many, the 54th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence does not call for commemoration, but should provide the citizenry moments to pause and allow for silent, sober reflection on the tumultuous events that have slowed the nation’s inevitable ascent to greatness.
His words: “Yes, Nigeria has been mired in controversy, and has attempted to be split apart by indi­viduals and cabals that would seek to divide and therefore, conquer. The multitude of threats could have broken us as a united country and at the very least, caused our day of Independence to be tarnished by skepticism and doubt for our future”.

He said that despite the challenges facing the nation, she has every cause to celebrate, adding, “today is our Independence Day. And today, we are as proud as ever to be Nige­rians. We look forward to ushering in a new era of accountability in the name of prosperity in the year to come”.

The statement reads: “As militant insurgency continues its malleable penetration of our borders and challenges the livelihoods of our communities and even our children, as Ebola again rears its ugly head, with the threat of outbreak ever prevalent in public discourse and as elections pose a risk, to once more bitterly divide us, one can easily claim disarray as opposed to bask in what should be joyous exuberance of Nigeria’s half-century-long climb to the forefront of Africa’s market­place.

“We witness innovation and dis­coveries therein regularly, praising those that seek to capitalize on the abundance of opportunity all around us. We continue to exude an in­domitable spirit of entrepreneurship that has unlocked our true potential and enabled the country to reach economic excellence in a relatively short period of time, given the his­tory of geo-politics.

“As we aim to secure our borders, we have fortified new and renewed relationships with international partners; we have taken the opportunity to promote integration to these comrades and Nigeria, the jewel of the ECOWAS, as the appro­priate conduit for investment in ‘Rising Africa’.

“We embrace unabatedly our cultures, each unique but each similarly hosting and openly sharing in tradition and heritage while acknowledging the role technology and modern polity must play in ensuring ours is a nation competitive, in order to steward the BRICS into a new century of level prosperity”.