With malice towards none, former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu Sunday took his campaign for Fair Play to higher dimensions, proclaiming that the North would not stem Igbo Presidential aspirations in 2015.
Apparently set to prove that Nigerians up north were not overshadowed by a ramrod stiff bunch of power drunk politicians, Kalu deflated the reasoning that the South-East cannot get justice in the next Presidential arrangement.
He said, “We are not being fair when we say the North will not compromise. On June 12 1993, Chief Moshood Abiola, a Yoruba, defeated Alhaji Bashir Tofa in his northern backyard. In 1999,they chose Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, another Yoruba. So, all things being equal, something similar will happen in 2015 in favor of the Igbo”
Kalu delved into history to show that the Igbo trusted and maintained ties with the North. “Four Igbo sons who affected the march of history-Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe, Gens Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi,Emeka Ojukwu and Maj.Nzeogwu spoke fluent Hausa. In fact, Zik and Ojukwu were born in Zungeru. Ironsi appointed Lt. Col.Yakubu Gowon as Army Chief, Late Alhaji Ahmadu Bello’s relation, Hamzat Ahmadu Private Secretary; his escorts were led by Lt. William Walbe. These were all northerners.Ojukwu’s driver as Battalion Commander was Yusuf Azi,Gowon’s kinsman, his orderly Abdulkadir Kanabe was Hausa. Nzeogwu was known as Kaduna”, the ex-governor revealed.
The north also showed some regards. In his words, “Although Nzeogwu killed the Premier of the Northern region in the January 15,1966 coup, when the former died on the Biafran side during the war, Gen.Gowon made sure his remains was flown to Kaduna for full military honours at the Cemetry. Even Second Lt. Emeka Omeruah one of the subalterns ordered by Nzeogwu to storm the Sarduana’s house and who fought for Biafra as an Army Colonel, found his way back to the Nigeria Air-Force later where he rose to be minister under three northern Generals[Muhammadu Buhari,Sani Abacha, Abdusalami Abubakar]respectively, and Governor under General Ibrahim Babangida.His younger brother, Paul Omeruo was also governor under Abacha.”
Kalu cited more intimate ties between the Igbo and the North which should bring both parties to a pact in 2015.”There is no present Northern leader who does not feel at home in Igboland. Babangida’s father-in-law Ogbueshi Leo Okogwu was a wealthy Asaba Chief who married Hajia Asabe Mohammed King of Minna,Maryam’s mom, and aunt to Gen.Garba Duba.Gen. Ike Nwachukwu’s maternal home is in the Katsina Emir’s Palace,Brig.Alabi Isama’s Kwale dad married the sister of the Emir of Ilorin.Alhaji Abubakar Atiku,Adm.Murtala Nyako have Igbo wives.The Deputy Governor of Imo state, Jude Agbaso and General Buba Marwa are in-laws.Yes,we can sit down to agree on equity.”
