Date Published: 07/26/10

Sir,

Ending Orji Uzor Kalu's Political Clout

Orji Uzor Kalu could be a master in ‘fooling’ technology.  But indeed it is true that while it is possible to fool some of the people some of the time; while it may even be possible to fool all of the people some of the time, it is absolutely impossible to fool all of the people all of the time.

In the 80s, Kalu was thrown up as a budding star through a PUNCH newspaper interview during debate on whether or not Nigeria should take IMF loan. Kalu did not support the idea of taking the loan. He offered to loan the nation the sum of US$800,000 and urged well-to-do Nigerians to gather resources in order to save Nigeria from taking the IMF loan. Orji knows how to warn up to people. Soon after that, at a musical record launch at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, he was introduced to MKO Abiola who quickly identified him (as) among those to donate in support Olympic Fund Raising Committee (headed by MKO) as it headed for Maiduguri launch few days later. Kalu donated N250,000 in cash; it turned out that his ‘boys’ made away with the cash and instead decorated bundle of pieces of papers outwardly with genuine currency notes as his donation. It was a celebrated case. That notwithstanding, Kalu grew in recognition and IBB appointed him chairman of (now) defunct bank. Since then he waxed stronger, politically.

Now Kalu’s successor-in-office, Theodore Orji, decamped from Kalu’s PPA to APGA forcing Kalu to rush a reason; that because he promised Dr. Nwodo, he now returned to his vomit (PDP). In order to control the PDP in Abia State, Theodore Orji is returning to PDP from his newly adopted party, the APGA.

Nevertheless, one thing is clear, Orji is returning with dignity because high-powered national PDP delegation visited and begged him to return. In the case of Kalu; he indirectly begged PDP for him return. This is why I said that Kalu’s political worth has met a dead end and looked divinely predicted.

Chief Ogbuagu Chikelu, Nwaniba Road, UYO, Akwa Ibom State

ogbuaguchikelu@yahoo.com