Orji Uzor Kalu
Ukpai Ukairo Esq.
This advertorial posted to
major newspapers in Nigeria is in reaction to the lies and lies of Orji
Uzor Kalu in his newspaper, SUN, which he established with part of the
funds he looted from the public treasury of Abia State when he was
Governor from 1999 to 2007.
This piece is one of the ways of ensuring
that Orji Uzor Kalu, a political Ebola Virus Disease, is lawfully
quarantined by the people of Abia State.
PROLOGUE:
We have not forgotten
We shall not forget
His years of infamy!
1.
Orji Uzor Kalu, a former civilian governor of Abia State murdered sleep
in REIGN OF TERROR BY ABIA TRIMVIRATE, Saturday Sun, August 9, 2014
p.71 which appeared in KALU LEADERSHIP SERIES (KLS), his regular weekly
column in his personal newspaper. The need to challenge the preposterous
claims and set the records straight is the raison d’etre for this
intervention. It is my sincere expectation that the conversation will be
unhindered in the interest of developmental politics founded on facts
and not fiction. But, first thing first! Let me hoist a tapestry of the
character disposition of Orji Uzor Kalu in order to foreground our
discussion.
2. I need state immediately that I do not buy Sun
Newspapers. This is because the alter ego of the stable, Orji Uzor Kalu,
for reasons that will appear clear hereunder, is an unserious character
with grandiose disposition carefully crafted to hoodwink with unwary.
3.
Again, I also doubt the propriety of a newspaper owner creating a
column for himself in his newspaper where he enjoys the uninhibited
license of publishing his articles at will, without regard to quality
whilst enjoying an unlimited access to those who will permit or deny a
rejoinder. This is an issue which I think the NPAN should look at.
4.
Finally, KLS is one of those crafty designs for image – laundering of
Orji Uzor Kalu. The truth is that he has no leadership credentials
except as is enough to deceive and cheat. When he celebrated his one
hundred days in office during his first tenure I published a letter to
him where I predicted that he will impose unmitigated disaster upon Abia
State. I regret that I was proved right. Leadership is reflected in
family and public life. On both fronts, Orji Uzor Kalu is not a good
market. That is why he cannot teach any positive values. If you listen
to Orji Uzor Kalu speak ex tempore in public, you will know that even
KLS is a product of faceless writers who are in his payroll. It is not a
case of somebody knowing how to write but being handicapped in public
speaking. He simply cannot deliver a coherent message with the same
artificial erudition that characterized KLS.
5. The capacity of Orji
Uzor Kalu to lie is legendary. But, it has served him so well that he
has elevated it to an arts form. This was how, growing up in the 70s, he
grafted Kalu to his name because he wanted to be seen as the son of
Chief Nnanna Kalu, a business mogul from Abiriba who at the time was a
household name in business circles in Aba. In Igbere, the village of
Orji Uzor Kalu, everyone knows that “Kalu” does not feature in the
family tree of Orji Uzor Kalu.
6. The same trait was again at play
when Orji Uzor Kalu mounted the podium in Borno State of old at the
launching of a development fund and made a donation of a sum of money
that was mind – boggling. As it later turned out, when the cartons with
which the money was delivered were opened, pieces of paper were the
content.
7. Of course, it is well known that Orji Uzor Kalu falsely
claims to have been a student in University of Maiduguri. According to
the fable, which he craftly weaved, he voluntarily abandoned his course
of study because some of his co – students who were expelled following a
students’ protest were not recalled with him. This story line is of
course a tortoise – said – this – and – that story. It is historic fact
that the students who were expelled went to court and the titanic legal
battle they waged moved from the High Court to the Supreme Court.
8.
Again, it is an established fact that Orji Uzor Kalu remains the only
Nigerian who flaunts a High Court Order that validated a WAEC result in
the name of one Orji Uzor Johnson as his WAEC Certificate. For those who
might have forgotten, the story is worth retelling, albeit, briefly.
While Orji Uzor Kalu was Governor, a certain character whose whereabouts
is presently unknown claimed that the WAEC result of Orji Uzor Kalu did
not belong to him. Pronto, Orji Uzor Kalu approached the High Court
presided over by Hon. Justice S.N. Imo, who was the Chief Judge at that
time. In that suit, he filed against WAEC, he claimed that the WASC
result in the name of Johnson belonged to Orji Uzor Kalu. In the fastest
legal proceedings ever conducted in any judicial system, the Chief
Judge granted all the reliefs.
9. It is worth recalling that it was
the WAEC result and the Court judgment that Orji Uzor Kalu later used to
procure admission for a full – time degree course in Abia State
University whilst being the Visitor to the said University in his
capacity as the Governor of Abia State. Interestingly, with the
severance of his fraudulent influence, the Senate of the University has
since recalled the Certificate.
10. NOW TO THE ARTICLE: The
unimpeachable Truth is that all the core assertions in the said article
are false in the extreme. They represent the quintessential trait of the
character flaw of Orji Uzor Kalu; a capacity to lie and lie with aplomb
11.
In the very first paragraph of the article, Orji Uzor Kalu claims that
Chief T.A. Orji, the Governor of Abia State, is engaging in “campaign of
hate against me and the people of Abia State”. This is an absolute lie.
Orji Uzor Kalu is a victim of the repercussions of his misdeeds in Abia
State. That is the reason he cannot freely walk the streets of Aba and
accordingly has carefully avoided a visit to the town he grew up and I
dare say, loved to be.
12. Few years ago, he was booed at a
particular road junction in Aba – Owerri Road when he was identified in a
pothole – induced traffic jam. On that fateful day sachet water and
oranges were freely hurled at the vehicle of the former Governor. Trust
Aba people in their disavowed of evil! It is the distaste by the people
of Aba for the eight years of waste under Orji Uzor Kalu that he
attributes to the Governor. As I write, I challenge any one who cares to
visit the numerous drinking joints in Aba and mention either the name
of Orji Uzor Kalu or his mother.
13. The claim that Chief T.A. Orji
is engaged in a campaign of hate against the people of Abia State is a
lie taken too far. There is nothing at all no matter how minor to
support such wild accusation. It is thus not surprising that Orji Uzor
Kalu could not cite a single example of such campaign. As somebody who
has lived in Aba since 1972, I have no hesitation in saying that the
assertion that Abia State is under siege is a make – belief.
14.
However, one thing is clear. The havoc Orji Uzor Kalu and the mother
wrecked on the people of Abia State is far too fresh that they have
reason to fear for their lives. What are the facts to back up this
assertion? Under Orji Uzor Kalu and mother, several hapless political
jobbers were railroaded to different shrines where they took oath of
personal allegiance. The victims of this idolatry are very much alive
and they are bitter.
15. Again, it was Orji Uzor Kalu that
masterminded the storming of the Abia State House of Assembly sometime
in his first tenure in office. The House of Assembly was damaged and
several House members wounded by the thugs who were openly identified.
The reaction of Orji Uzor Kalu was predictable. He donated Ten Million
Naira only for the repair of the damaged property. Nobody was arrested
and nobody was prosecuted.
16. Again, Orji Uzor Kalu should remember
that “Orie Ohabiam 32”. If he has forgotten, I need to remind him that
thirty – two young men died in a cell maintained by a Vigilante Group
midwifed by him. Nobody was arrested. Nobody was prosecuted. The
families of the victims were never compensated. The bitterness against
Orji Uzor Kalu is so potent that it can permeate his high security
walls.
17. Also, Orji Uzor Kalu should remember the two youngsters
from Ubakala, aka Ubakala Two, who were killed at White House, Umuahia.
Every hand pointed at the Governor and the mother and until now nobody
was prosecuted.
18. There are several other cases of mysterious
deaths under the nose of Orji Uzor Kalu. However, let me bore readers
which such other examples. Let me conclude by challenging Orji Uzor Kalu
to cite one example of mysterious death since 2007 which can be traced,
even remotely, to Chief T.A. Orji.
19. Let us remember our initial
thesis: Orji Uzor Kalu is a pathological liar. Thus, when he asserts
that “what we have in Abia State is total siege”, you can be assured
that a spin doctor is at work. When Orji Uzor Kalu and his mother were
in charge, they looted several lands meant for public purpose. A clear
example is the scramble for Ayaba Umueze land which was acquired for a
Teaching Hospital. In a brazen display of non – parallel greed Orji Uzor
Kalu shared out the land to Slok Nig. Ltd., his company, his brothers,
mothers and co – travelers in perfidy.
20. Still in their
demonstrable lust for money Orji Uzor Kalu’s mother converted every open
space in markets in Aba for the building of stalls which were allotted,
for re – sale, to members of Nweke Cabinet – a reference to all the
favour – seeking hangers – on who regularly thronged the residence of
Orji Uzor Kalu’s mother at Nweke Street, Eziama – Aba, a sub – GRA in
Aba.
21. In addition, open spaces were converted into Motor Parks,
Kiosks stands and shops which ensured the environmental defacement of
the entire Enyimba City. It is these illegal structures, the
manifestation of the debasement of values under Orji Uzor Kalu, that are
being demolished. Orji Uzor Kalu is only crying because when they
erected the structures they knew of the illegality but had proclaimed to
the beneficiaries that nothing could happen. In the celebrated language
of that time: Usu eneweghi onu (bats cannot bite).
22. Accordingly,
when Orji Uzor Kalu contends that Abia State is no more congenial he is
right in a way. For evil men, fraudsters and idolaters Abia State is no
more congenial. However, for the persons who are genuine in their
aspiration for development; Abia State remains the destination for good
returns on investments. It is a known fact that Aba houses the highest
number of SMEI in sub – Sahara Africa which is the reason the biggest
private electric power generating plant is being established in Aba.
23.
I must however concede that the sacking of non – indigenes by the Chief
T.A. Orji administration was inconsistent with the status of Abia State
as a cosmopolitan State. Accordingly, I was one of those that urged for
a reversal of the policy. It is heart – warming that the policy has
been reviewed leading to the on – going re – engagement of workers.
24.
For the umpteenth time, let me say that it is not true that we live in
fear in Abia State. On the contrary, the air of freedom is
unprecedented. Today a private radio station in Aba offers everybody the
platform to air views that were not possible in the heady days of Orji
Uzor Kalu’s administration. In 2013, the Aba Marathon became a symbol of
the air of freedom in Aba. The claim therefore, that nowhere is safe in
Abia State is the figment of a mind that is haunted by the evil deeds
of the past. Think of Lady Macbeth seeing spots of blood in her hand or
Greet Birnam Wood charging towards Macbeth in battle.
25. Let me at
this stage address the issue of double – taxation in Aba. I agree that
this is a major issue in governance. As a tax practitioner and a legal
practitioner, it is real. However, two quick points are necessary. It is
national problem as all the states are involved. Again, it was worse
during the time of Orji Uzor Kalu. I can recall vividly that the regime
of illegal tax started with illegal levies imposed on landlords in Aba.
Without any law in place, the agents of Orji Uzor Kalu moved into action
and started forcing payments of diverse sums. At the same time,
commercial bus drivers started paying what was then known as thirty
naira, for short, which was said to have been approved by “mama” a
reference to the mother of Orji Uzor Kalu. The ferocity, with which the
payment of levies was enforced, when Orji Uzor Kalu was governor, is
still recalled with anger in Aba.
26. Let us fast forward to now.
Recently, Governor T.A. Orji convoked a tax summit in Abia State. The
summit was a reaction to criticisms of the regime of multiple taxations
in Abia State. During the time of Orji Uzor Kalu such a platform was not
possible because “bats had no mouth”. The outcome of the summit has not
been made public but Governor T.A. Orji has already directed the
suspension of all revenue agents pending when all the taxes are
harmonized. I dare say that such directive was not possible under Orji
Uzor Kalu arising from the insatiable appetite to grab.
27. I am
honestly amazed at Orji Uzor Kalu’s complaint about the air waves being
inundated with praise singing and booth – licking. When he was Governor,
his mother became on radio; a political Amazon of our time. She was
daily equated with having intellectual and political prowess with every
great woman in history. Such was the time! Today, while it is generally
accepted that the tone of some pronouncements on the air waves are
handiwork of overzealous fans of the Ochendo Magic there is nothing near
the absurd level that heralded the Orji Uzor Kalu era. It is not for
nothing that the NBC at the time, imposed a fine of N500,000.00 on the
State Radio Station in lieu of revoking the license.
28. I dare say
that the comparison of Abia State and Borno State is absurd to the
extreme. This is reason I can safely say that Orji Uzor Kalu is living
in a make – belief world. The camaraderie in Abia State is palpable. The
Youth Empowerment Scheme of Chief T.A. Orji has put smiles on the faces
of uncountable families. Orji Uzor Kalu as governor distributed wheel
barrows, old vehicles, abandoned by his aides and motorcycles. Today,
what Chief T.A. Orji is distributing are vehicles that are in good stead
for transportation. The difference, as they say, is clear!
29. Orji
Uzor Kalu claims that when he was governor he “treated people with
dignity, respect and love”. This is absolute nonsense. We need to know
whether oath – taking before diverse shrines was consistent with respect
for the dignity of the human person. It is also worthy to recall that
Orji Uzor Kalu insulted every known politician in Abia State. His
caustic attack on Chief Ojo Maduekwe is a metaphor for the point I am
making. In this respect, it will be recalled that, out of clear
mischief, he stoutly claimed that the name “OJO” was not of Igbo origin
and therefore that Chief Ojo Maduekwe was not an Igbo man.
30. While
America was fighting the evil of Taliban, Orji Uzor Kalu conjectured it
as a fitting name for all other politicians who refused to kiss the
poisoned chalice of mother and son for filthy lucre. With the toga of
Taliban stuck on every politician, except his ilk, the message to his
agents was clear: treat the opposition in the same manner Americans were
treating the Taliban in Afghanistan! For Orji Uzor Kalu to turn around
few years later to claim a behavioural pattern that is inconsistent with
his avowed public stance is another manifestation of the lies and lies
of Orji Uzor Kalu.
31. It is laughable that Orji Uzor Kalu can claim
he groomed Governor T.A. Orji. As I write this piece, Orji Uzor Kalu has
no graduate certificate from any University in the world. Yet, he has
the effrontery to claim that he groomed a graduate of a foremost
University in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan! This is absolutely
unbelievable. Orji Uzor Kalu grew up in the ghetto in Aba and by the
time he became Governor all he had to his name, as shown in his
certificate with which he contested elections in 1999 and 2003 is his
(?) WAEC Certificate. Another known attribute then was that he was
widely traveled and a close friend to some military autocrats. Some also
falsely thought he had money, not rich because even today, his
character flaws betray him as being poor. How then is it possible that
Orji Uzor Kalu groomed Chief T.A. Orji. On the contrary, it was Chief
T.A. Orji that did all he could to attain a turn – around of Orji Uzor
Kalu from seeing everything as “business” and “game” to the real issues
of governance. Regrettably, Orji Uzor Kalu was and remains merely a
“game man”; somebody who cheats, deceives and lies for personal
advantage or gains.
32. That Orji Uzor Kalu attempts to stick on
Governor T.A. Orji the “traits of arrogance, meanness, brutality or
greed” is shocking because there is no action of the Governor that can
be cited in support except in respect of the absolute and damming
rejection of the Orji Uzor Kalu’s negative tendencies. It was the
negative tendencies highlighted by Orji Uzor kalu that garlanded his
administration. Every Abian recalls that at the height of his infamy
Orji Uzor Kalu asserted that his family will be in charge of Abia
Governance for fifty years. It was also at this time that he threw up
his brother, over night, to run and win election under Action Congress
to represent Aba North/South Federal Constituency. The hapless brother,
thrown up to highlight Orji Uzor Kalu ‘s political dexterity was later
referred to as ‘deaf and dumb” because not for once did he make any
contribution in the House of Represnetatives.
33. Let me remind Orji
Uzor Kalu that rejection of veil is obedience to God. And he who loves
God has no business with die – hard sinners. The position of Chief T.A.
Orji , as I understand it, comes to this, metaphorically speaking , : I
either serve (nay work) with God or mammon and because I am serving
(working) with God I will show absolute and irrevocable rejection of
mammon.
34. Orji Uzor Kalu claims he openly fraternized with
everybody when he was Governor. This is absolute false. I can attest
that he once attended Chief Ojo Maduekwe’s daughter’s traditional
marriage when no invitation was extended to him. That was a clear
example of an uncivilized man who saw the whole thing as a game to
bemuse his host. It is remarkable that even after that visit the
political darts they hauled at each other became more furious. So, what
was the aim of the visit? Pretended love by a hypocrite. I do not think a
well bred technocrat like Chief T.A. Orji is caught out for such
charade!
35. One of the attributes of Orji Uzor Kalu, as earlier
highlighted, is the uncanny ability to make assertions that will appear
true to the unwary. He came up with this strategy when he rhetorically
asked if Chief T.A. Orji “will have the courage to walk the streets as
many of us today when he leaves office as Governor?” Inherent in this
statement is that Orji Uzor Kalu can walk the streets freely. I know he
can do so in the streets of London, New York, Washington and even Lagos.
Let him try it in Aba or any other part of Abia State except Igbere.
36.
Before Orji Uzor Kalu became governor, he was the poster boy of good
life in Aba. He was the stand – by boy of the rich with whom he enjoyed
to associate with. Because he attended primary School in CKC, Aba ,
Secondary Schools in Eziama High School Aba and Government College,
Umuahia; he walked the streets with joy – filled approbation. Even as
Governor he enjoyed this sociable image which he cultivated as a façade
of deceit. But that was then. Today, his person throws up disdain and
opprobrium. I challenge him to test the water; not in Igbere but in
other parts of Abia State.
37. For clarity, it needs to be said that
each of the assertions of Orji Uzor Kalu in his article are either
premised on false ground or intentionally skewed. He claims he never
visited government house after he left office. That may be true. But he
always desired Government House to be visiting him and the mother. The
competence and moral fortitude of Chief T.A. Orji are evident in his
ability to reject such contraption; an attitude that Orji Uzor Kalu
calls meanness.
38. It is right to underscore the fact that Orji Uzor
Kalu claims that he does not embark on wild goose chase. But, that is
exactly the opposite of Orji Uzor Kalu. While Governor of Abia State he
demonstrated his character flaw. In his first 100 days in office, he set
up a Committee headed by the venerable Chief Akwuiwu (SAN) to
investigate illegal sale of property in GRA, Abia State. The report was
never made public. Also, Orji Uzor Kal, as governor, set up a Panel of
Inquiry into what was known as “Igbere crisis”. Of course, not a word
was heard of the report. Also, it was the same “game – man” – trait that
made the Governor to set up a Committee on hand over of schools to
their owners. Of course, no school was handed over to the original
owners until the end of his tenure. Several other examples could be
pointed out but the above three are, in my view enough, to support our
contention.
39. It is right that Orji Uzor Kalu is preaching moral
rectitude, peace and harmony. But he has to step out now and apologize
to Ndi Abia. His Government of Mamatocracy characterized by deceit,
blood letteing and idolatry are still fresh. His was the typical Egypt.
His write – up shows that he is an unrepentant sinner. He needs our
prayers only but not our association. We in Abia State have long left
Egypt. There is no going back “Enyi Abia Alawala!”.
40. Finally, it
is apt to stress that Chief T.A. Orji is humane, honest and caring.
These are the attributes that are rare in most leaders. He should not be
distracted by the likes of Orji Uzor Kalu. As the great Zik said,
“History will vindicate the just”.
Ukpai Ukairo
Lawyer – Politician
Principal Solicitor, Ukpa Ukairo and Associates
Aba.
Immediate Past legal Adviser, PDP South East Zone
