Gentlemen of the press,
We welcome all of you here today to address you on a subject of urgent national importance. Our country is still trapped in a highly tensed election season, and unfolding events seem to suggest that we enjoy destructive politics, rather than politics of equity, peace, law and orderliness.
When “Federal Character” was added as part of our laws, some of us were not consulted. But we have had to live with it, so that Nigeria may have peace, equity, law and order. This is the reason why my daughter who scored 65% will be considered a failure in order to admit another child from Zamfara that scored 12% into Federal Govt. College. I have had the unenviable task of convincing my ward that her 65% was not enough because she is from Anambra state – South East Nigeria. She must stay at home and work hard to make 66% next year; because in our dear country, Federal Character Act compels us to proportionately accommodate all parts of the country, even if we have to lower the bar to achieve that. Children, will not understand that.
Perhaps a peep into history will help provide an insight on our trajectory to equity. At the time of independence in 1960, our country Nigeria was a Federal State of three Regions – Northern, Western and Eastern Region. Today, Nigeria has metamorphosed into 37 states (36 states and FCT)with former Northern Region now 20 states (19 states plus FCT); Western Region and Eastern Region together makes up the remaining 17 states. The implication is that one region is now more than the other two put together. This however, has not changed the fundamental – that Nigeria remains a federal state standing on a tripod – Northern, Western and Eastern Regions (or Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo). Care must always be taken not to be seen, to be attempting to relegate or otherwise suppress any of these tripod for sake of equity and egalitarianism.
In democratic governance of Nigeria, federal character law demands equitable distribution of offices among the regions. The former three regions have now been changed to six regions, in which former Northern region alone have three regions while former western and eastern region have three. This notwithstanding, you still expect the tripod to produce the first, second and third citizens respectively at all times. In which case, having elected Hausa-Fulani President and a Yoruba Vice President; it should be straight- forward that the third citizen – Senate President must be Igbo. Anything less should be a recipe for disorder and chaos.
In the 8th National Assembly, politics of absence of APC Senator of Igbo extraction led to an aberration of relegating Igbo leadership of the Senate to Deputy Senate President – who was ‘unusually’ PDP, in APC-dominated senate. The consequences of that on governance were far-reaching. Remarkably, not only does Nd’igbo have APC Senator in the 9th Senate, he is even a ranking member of the National Assembly – having been elected Member Federal House of Representatives in 1992-1993. This is in addition to having been a two-term Governor.
We heard from grapevine that APC has zoned Senate Presidency to North East (in fact, to Senator Ahmed Lawan personally). This is no more than petty politics of attempting to compensate Senator Lawan for not getting the seat in the last dispensation when it was zoned to him. This suggestion does not take into account the fact that the dynamics of the 8th Assembly is fundamentally different from that of the 9th Assembly. And as such, any attempt to relegate ndigbo to accept Deputy Senate President again in the 9th Assembly will be vehemently resisted for three reasons:
1. It is our constitutional right, granted by Federal Character Act, which is “to monitor and enforce proportional sharing of political and other offices in Nigeria”
2. The unconstitutional excuse of ‘no Igbo APC Senator’ will be non-existent in the 9th Assembly; and
3. The Igbo APC Senator-elect for the 9th Assembly (candidate for Senate Presidency – His Excellency, Chief(Dr) Orji Uzor Kalu) is an eminent member of our ‘first eleven’. I will spend some time below to elucidate this clearly.
Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) became too popular – a household name – that every Nigerian assumes expert knowledge of who he is, yet even his close political associates barely know him. They only know the ‘mud’ thrown at quintessential Orji Kalu on the dirty political turf, which resembles nothing more than the now-rested claim ‘that Buhari is Jubril from Sudan’.
In our politics, every opponent is a fraudster and a failure; but facts don’t lie; and below are verifiable facts about the man we love to call “OUK”.
THE MAN OF DESTINY – The next Senate President, His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Orji Uzor Kalu – MON.
1. Academic Qualifications:
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu attended Christ the King School, Aba for his primary education, Eziama High School, Aba; Government College, Umuahia for secondary education and tertiary education at University of Maiduguri; Abia State University, Uturu where he obtained B.Sc in Political Science, Harvard University Graduate Business School (AMP 153) Boston, USA IEA Certificate by USAID. He was awarded three honorary doctorate degrees in Law by the University of Port Harcourt, Abia State University, Uturu, and City State University, Los Angeles, USA.
2. Business Career:
This 2019, Forbes ranked Orji Uzor Kalu as the 8th richest Nigerian with estimated networth of $1.1Bn; having in 2014 named him among Africa’s top 50 richest men.
For someone not born with silver spoon in the mouth, Orji Kalu’s achievements are more like fiction than reality.
At 25, he was Board Chairman, Borno State Water Board in Maiduguri.
At 27 years of age, OUK became Board Chairman of a leading commercial Bank in Nigeria – Cooperative & Commerce Bank Ltd -CCB And also Chairman Imo State Marketing & Supply Agency. Member, Federal Government Commission on Re-Grading of Traditional Rulers.
He is the Owner of SLOK GROUP – comprising: Slok Shipping Ltd; Slok Energy Ltd; Happy Home Furniture Company, Slok Nigeria Limited, Slok (UK)Limited, Adamawa Publishers Limited, Slok Vegetable Oil, Slok USA Inc., Supreme Oil Limited, Slok Airlines, Metro Energy (Guinea) Ltd, Bende Export-Import Ltd, Slok International Dubai, etc.
OUK is still the Group Chairman of First International Bank Ltd – a leading commercial Bank with presence in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Liberia. So also for International Insurance Co. Ltd spread across Africa.
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu is the Owner/Publisher of The Sun; and New Telegragh newspapers, among others.
3. Political Career:
OUK was Governor of Abia State for two terms from 1999 to 2007. He became Governor at the youthful age of 39. Before then he had been a member, Federal House of Representatives from 1992 to 1993 during which he was Deputy Chairman, Finance & Internal Affairs Committees
During his second tenure as Governor, he fell out with the powers that be in PDP prompting him to form his own party PPA. And within one year of existence OUK’s PPA was able to win Governorship elections in Abia and Imo State. The victory in Abia was even more remarkable as the then candidate OUK’s Chief of staff (now, Senator Theodore Orji) was held in detention while OUK campaigned and won the election for him, defeating PDP’s Federal might. This was a strong measure of OUK’s political dexterity and acceptance by his people.
This extra-ordinary political popularity was demonstrated again in this 2019 election when OUK beat incumbent Senator Ohuabunwa of PDP running on APC ticket which is generally unpopular in South-East Nigeria. Riding on the back of OUK’s popularity, APC did not only win Senatorial seat, but two Federal House of Representatives seats and some State House of Assembly seats in Abia, that is PDP controlled.
The OUK effect won 85,058 votes for PMB in 2019 compared to 13,384 votes in 2015 despite the IPOB/‘Egwueke’ saga with Nnamdi Kanu at Afara-ukwu in Abia State. This gave PMB over 26% of total valid votes cast in Abia. Whereas in Enugu, APC could only manage 54,423 which was less than13% of total valid votes in Enugu state; despite former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Governor Sullivan Chime, and Senator Ayogu Eze among others being in Enugu APC.
During his regime, Gov. Kalu built over 300 urban and rural roads, renovated 820 schools; planted 510 hectares of rubber, 2 million pineapple suckers, 5 million palm and cocoa seedlings; distributed over 10 million day old chicks to civil servants, schools, churches and cooperative societies.
His free medical scheme treated over 1.5 million persons; introduction of tuition-free education in both primary and secondary schools, distribution of free computer sets, textbooks, mathematical sets, and desks; and the regular payment of workers and teachers salaries. His poverty eradication package was about the best in Nigeria. Apart from creating employment opportunities for thousands of youths, he empowered many indigent persons through the distribution of interest-free loans, motorcycles, buses and cars. Pensions and gratuities owed retirees by previous administrations in the state were fully paid.
As a result of his performance which earned him the title of “ACTION GOVERNOR OF NIGERIA” from President Obasanjo, Kalu’s political goodwill transcends political party lines.
With his senatorial election a mere formality, Orji devoted his time and resources to campaign for President Buhari’s re-election by touring the entire 36 states and FCT canvassing for votes long before the official Presidential campaign flag-off.
4. Sports Contributions:
OUK is easily Nigeria’s best politician in sports. He is presently, the Chairman Nigeria Judo Federation. Former Member, National Sports Commission. He changed the fortunes of the once comatose Enyimba Football Club of Aba into serial winners of Nigerian League; and back to back winners of African CAF Champions League, for the first time in more than 38 years history of the Competition for Nigeria. Enyimba F.C also won the CAF Super Cup back to back under his watch; and has remained a reference point in club football in Nigeria and Africa.
5. Professional Memberships:
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu belongs to many professional and trade bodies which include, Nigerian Institute of Directors (IOD), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture(NACCIMA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Nigeria-Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigeria Importers and Exporters Association, Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria-Israel Association, and Spartansburg Chamber of Commerce S.C. USA.
6. Awards won:
OUK has won many local and international awards, including the National Merit Award of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON); the Industrialist of the Year by the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA); Youngest Bank Chairman Award by the famous Top Magazine when he became the chairman of Cooperative and Commerce Bank in 1987, a special award by the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, Special Award by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fellow Bauchi Polytechnic, Fellowship of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, and the prestigious Leon Sullivan Award by the World Bank, Washington. He is also a visitor of Miami Dave County in the State of Florida, United States of America. Humanitarian Award by the Humanitarian Club of the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka; and Volunteer Award by the International Association of Volunteers. OUK has received more than 200 traditional titles cutting across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. He is a truly detribalized Nigerian.
7. Community Social Responsibility (CSR):
He is the Promoter of “Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation”, an NGO with focus on health, education and democratic governance. His philanthropy has resulted in scholarships awarded to thousands of indigent students; and free medical services to several thousands more, all over Nigeria, cutting across tribal and religious divide.
8. CONCLUSION:
Whereas quota system or zoning is very useful in achieving fair and equitable representation in governance, it often has the tendency to encourage mediocrity. Hence, in any situation where zoning is complemented by merit, nothing can be more desirable. That is exactly the situation with the Senate Presidency of the 9th Assembly – rightly falling to South-East by quota and coinciding with excellent candidacy in Dr Orji Kalu.
For many Nigerians, the enthusiasm about PDP/Atiku Presidential contest is hinged on its attachment to Peter Obi’s CV. The CV of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu displayed above brings no less to the APC/Buhari ‘Next Level’ ticket albeit as No.3 as against PDP’s No.2 position to Obi/Ndigbo. Demoting OUK to Deputy Senate President will dilute this national enthusiasm and its spill-over effect. Any thought of having the President, Senate President & Chief Justice of Nigeria i.e. the headship of the three arms of government from the North is psychological terrorism.
A time comes in the life of a society when new realities call for new responses. The multi-faceted challenges that Nigeria faces at the moment calls for suspension of primordial sentiments and pecuniary patronages in pursuit of genuine solutions. This is the time to enthrone merit, equity, justice and fairness; for one whose house is on fire, does not pursue rat.
We cannot continue to recycle our old mistakes and be expecting a different outcome. Our economy requires miracle workers, and they don’t come much better than OUK. Our polity requires cooperation, dexterity and a calming influence; not many Nigerians can offer those, than OUK. Though born an Igbo, his destiny was shaped in far North and his business headquartered in Southwest. His successes in business, politics and interpersonal relationships across ages, party, ethnic and religious lines are legendary.
Dr Kalu’s candidacy comes from our ‘first eleven’; and must be supported by all well-meaning Nigerians as history shall not be kind with anyone who may wish our dear country anything less. Igbo-Kwenu will spare no effort to see this dream come true.
Thank you for listening.
Dr. Chigbo Okoli
(Leader & Trustee).
