JUST IN: SENATOR ORJI KALU’S , OUTSPOKENNESS, PATRIOTISM AND BOLDNESS AS PANACEA FOR TRUE DEMOCRACY
Most Abians and non Abians have been giving kudos to the former Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice of Abia State and the Learned Silk,Chief Umeh Kalu (SAN) for his expository revelation which many termed as “explosive bombshell. Most of the facts enunciated therein are indisputable. However, my worry is,why did he keep Abians uninformed for the uninterrupted and consecutive ten good years he was in that Office? Did those alleged atrocities happen in a day? Why was he afraid of throwing in the towel having watched closely as Abians wallow in penury as a result of poor management of her funds/resources!
It is not only disturbing, but worrisome that most political appointees while partaking and enjoying the milking of others and sharing in the diabolic and dastard administration of their masters,only speak out when they leave office or when they are denied political opportunities? I respect Hon. Eziuche Ubani who used his time as a member of the House of Representative to establish himself. No wonder,despite the economic hardship in the country at moment, the fine gentleman whose integrity is paramount to him, turned down an appointment that ought to be very juicy in an ideal administration despite the obvious fact that such an appointment came from his kinsman. How many people in Abia State nay Nigeria can do that? How many political appointees or servants can take the bull by the horn and look straight into their Masters’ eyes,though with respect and decorum tell him or her of his or her inadequate performances in governance or speak out while in Office and damn the consequences which may result in relieving him of his or her position or office?
Such persons are rarely found in politics particularly, in our dear state ,Abia. By the way, can’t one survive without holding a political office or serving in government? Time for people to have what to do as vocation and see politics as additional source of income is now if we expect better democratic dividends.We need people who are courageous enough to voice out any presumed or envisaged anomaly in any administration and who have the requisite temerity and audacity to speak out and not those who intimate us of the heinous atrocities in governance when the situation is no longer favourable to them.
We may recall that when Governor Orji Uzor Kalu was the number one citizen of Abia State and a Statesman now who was the President of Nigeria, Chief Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo,despite recognizing and christening OUK as action governor,was not spared by Governor Orji Uzor Kalu. What do I want to say? Despite the fact that President OBJ was OUK’ s boss as the President when the later was the Governor of Abia State OUK did not hesitate to challenge the former and resisted Obasanjo’s bid for a third tenure. Orji Uzor Kalu did not only openly and stoutly oppose the inordinate ambition of an incumbent President, he went further to register and float his own political party, PPA which spread like wildfire throughout the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and it was on that platform he challenged his boss and an incumbent President and heaven did not get loose. Why didn’t OUK wait to express his disgust and he exploded? The simple reason is that the Distinguished Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu is very courageous, outspoken, fearless,focused and abhors injustice and docility. Though, very humble, accessible, humane,generous and meek in mind,he is a personality that believes that if one road closed, another opens. OUK,unlike most politicians have refused to put all his eggs in one basket. He cannot simply because he wants to obtain a favor from you or to please you, fail or hesitate to tell you the truth no matter how bitter. Believe it or leave it,any good Leader in his quiet moment will surely know that he was told the truth. Not until political appointees/ servants and the Electorates embrace this uncommon virtues of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, we cannot be set free from the shackles of ineptitude. If political appointees and other sundry staff/servants can be astute and courageous enough to tell their Masters the truth, devoid of sycophantic coloration ,our Leaders would brace up and do the proper thing,such having emanated from their close aides. We should not wait until when there are ripples or scores to settle.
Currently the boldness of Mr President in taking some decisions like, granting direct remittance of local government allocations, special package for teachers, signing the PIB Act which had been a herculean task for previous administrations, insisting on Legislative and Judicial autonomy among others which most Governors are bent to frustrate are very commendable. However, we need a younger President who would match words with action and leave his cosy Office to walk round to ensure the implementation of his directives. OUK who enters into the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to dine with the poor and rich even the downtrodden, has the magic wand to convince the Governors to ensure implementation of any approval that would be beneficial to the masses if only we can persuade him to accept the clarion call to lead Nigeria at the expiration of the incumbent President in 2023. Abians and South Easterners at large ought to intensify efforts to ensure that we areconsidered for that plume Office/position particularly ,now that most Zones are in sympathy with us. OUK,as the man who does not see politics as the sole source of livelihood and survival like most other politicians, hence,they can’t be bold to advice their Masters like Senator OUK, ought to be encouraged to heed to the clarion call to accept to run since he has what it takes. Let us jettison any form of acrimony, unfounded blackmail and unverified facts and rally round this political Iroko and prime mover whose love by majority of Nigerians is unshakable and undiluted. The earlier our people begin to exhibit courage in governance and service and not when they leave Office, the more glimmer of hope we have for us to have the much eluded dividends of democracy.
