Let me put it this way, when two men are always right, no man
is right. But when both men are wrong, reality is yet to be revealed.
The ‘seeming’ feud between some men who would pass as fathers of Abia
State and Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of the state, fits into
the picture of two men who are yet to own up to their true personalities
to put an end to their differences. That may be too straight, but it
is less impressing that kings could be waiting for another king from
Venus to come into their feud. Maybe, they are waiting for a yet to be
born Abian to mend them up. But who will that be and how right are they
in their wait? Would they still be proud fathers of the state after the
child had reconciled them?
I would not want to be driven by the urge to heap praises on these
men or talk them down on areas where they have fallen short with regard
to governing Abia State, representing Abia State or leading Abia State
but emphasis should be given to the fact that their face-off is a
persisting towering political divide in Abia State.
Between 1999 and 2007, Abia State was in one political kettle, hardly
does any other political party bulldoze into the political stream of
the state smilingly. But today, politics has fallen apart such that even
the centre can be tossed around by a political party that had no root
in the state. Really, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scaled through All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) by a hair breath. Yes, as it has,
would it in 2019? We shall all see!
The harmony, which Abia State enjoyed in the first two
administrations in this present democratic dispensation cannot be
mentioned without commenting on the political romance that existed in
the state when no man was ‘actually’ against another, unlike today when
men are against men. There was reality in political fights. I am used to
being a political news fan of Abia State, not just because that is my
state but for the fact that there used to be beauty in the political
drives on the scene. Every move was well calculated, not just to gang up
against a particular fellow rather, they were all moves strictly for
political maneuvers.
I still can recall the days when Kalu was receiving and also throwing
political darts from the then Abuja-based politicians; Ojo Maduekwe,
Adolfus Wabara, and the likes. It was an open battle. People may have
forgotten the political move also to unseat Kalu, as presented by the
Federal Government in the person of a non Abian, Chris Uba, who swore to
demean Kalu’s power in the state. Kalu vowed to crush him and did.
That was done within the ambits of politics. Had he not crushed all
others from the state, would the Federal Government have changed tactics
by bringing a foreigner? But why will dogs eat dogs in Abia? Why can’t
politics be played within the ambits of politics without scaling into
personal issues.
If Kalu played politics or governed Abia State in a manner that more
attention was paid to the ‘poor,’ which brought about his being attacked
by the ‘rich,’ why won’t that be over now he is out of power? If Kalu
enthroned a person, who wasn’t their choice as his successor, why won’t
the ‘beef’ be over now they have dined and are still dining with the
fellow without Kalu in the picture? The more this rift lingers, the
wider the political gulf in Abia State widens; a doom to many whom it
will swallow untimely and surprisingly.
If these men are all right and Kalu is also right, then are Abians
whom they have governed and leading the ones wrong? Suffice to say that,
hidden lies the truth while lies and deceit are thrown to the media and
passed through propaganda and forced down the minds of Abians.
It is a known fact that Kalu has always pleaded his innocence, in the
face of these dart-strikes, but can anyone be a saint? I know the
answer is no. But those who are striking from all angles at one fellow,
why the gang up on Kalu? Would we say that when people are publicly
executed for crimes, which they committed or not that there are no
people also stealing at the same time from people at the same scene who
are carried away by the event? Does that give a picture of Abia? Who
will be that ‘Jesus’ who would ask these people if they have not done
same as this woman has done…?
What more can be done to a man for an offence he (may) have
committed? What offence cannot be forgiven by men who teach their
children to love one another, as admonished by God but yet they still
have an enemy out there? Can any of these men come out and state the
fact that ‘this is why I am against Orji Uzor Kalu’?
I am not and would not hold brief for Kalu because I know, truly,
that he must have, at some point, offended these men. I still will state
that some offences may be oversight. Were they not oversights? Then,
come to the open and tell the world what offence Kalu has committed that
you cannot forgive. You take communion in the church. I know many of
you are church elders, deacons and the likes but what have you to prove
that enmity is wrong in Christendom?
The polarisation in Abia politics, which this seeming feud has
ignited and sustaining, will lead to a permanent political dent in Abia
State. The fact that you all are mute on this issue has made Kalu
nothing but a bride to the people who are today showering him with much
more love than before.
Go through the votes cast. Kalu dealt with cabals like they didn’t
exist. But their power is on ‘cabalism.’ If a select few of you guys
will always be denying Abians their rightful leaders and
representatives, how fair are you all to Abians. How would posterity
judge you all? I recall your hasty and immature moves to ensure that
Kalu did not return to the PDP. I recall the 1, 000 military men
deployed in Abia North alone just to stop Kalu from going to the Senate
in 2011. I recall all manner of lies fed through the media to undermine
Kalu. I recall all manner of character assassination aimed at the person
of Kalu; but let me ask, have you people stated truly that you have not
plotted for once to delete him? But why?
One will not be wrong to believe that all these attacks are borne out
of jealousy or fear of Kalu. Yes, jealousy and fear. Kalu is more loved
and very enterprising. He has nothing to beg anyone, hence his dogged
determination to speak out even if the little peanut will go the other
way.
Yes, you fear Kalu because he himself is fearless and could bulldoze
his way to any point without bribing any fellow, as his charisma and
tact carry him. It should be a wonder to you all that with all the state
and federal might to haunt him down, he still flies and makes waves in
Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. Just a mere knowledge that he
is making a passage on the streets makes for a stampede. A car with the
inscription of Kalu will always bring a smile to the face of Abians, who
always would mutter words: ‘There is no governor like Kalu.’ It is no
longer news that Abians cry for his return as governor.
Kalu is a man just like Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan,
Theodore A. Orji, Ojo Maduekwe, Patience Jonathan, Bola Tinubu, Adolfus
Wabara, even me and you. Tell him in secret or openly that which he has
done you wrong. He has been writing, speaking to the world that you all
are holding him down. Are you guys gagged? Come out and say his offence.
You don’t want to join words with him? Soon Abians will come after you.
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