South East
‘Nigeria’s Break-Up’ll Not Favour Ndigbo’
A former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Kalu has called for a cessation of the agitation for the Republic of Biafra, saying that the break-up of Nigeria will not be in the interest of Ndigbo.
Kalu made the call in an interview with newsmen last Saturday while reacting to the proscription of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the South-East Governors’ Forum.
He spoke on the sideline of the opening of the 2017 Annual Youth Summit organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI), Ikoyi, in collaboration with Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation at his ‘Camp Neya’ country home in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia.
Kalu said that given the huge investments by Ndigbo in different parts of the country, the people of South-East stood to suffer more than any other tribe, should Nigeria split.
“Ndigbo should stop boxing themselves to a corner. We are serious contenders and members of the entity called Nigeria.”
He, therefore, advised those agitating for the dissolution of Nigeria to have a rethink and work toward achieving peace and harmony in the country.
“The struggle for Biafra is not a serious one. Those agitating for the break-up of Nigeria should stop.
“Ndigbo should rather struggle for equity and justice so that they can feel safe to live and work in any part of the country.
“It is true that Ndigbo are marginalised but even our own people have at one time or the other also marginalised us.”
Kalu justified the deployment of troops to checkmate the activities of IPOB, saying that the organisation was challenging the sovereignty of Nigeria.
He said that the current tension resulting from the actions of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu could have been avoided, if he had respected his bail conditions.
“If Kanu had abided by his bail conditions, all these would not have happened.
“If the court gives an order, you are bound to abide by it whether good or bad. Then you can return to court to challenge the order.”
Kalu further said that the current military operation in the South-East, code-named “Operation Python Dance II” was intended to stem the rising wave of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the area.
Kalu, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, lent his support to the call for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference recommendation on restructuring the country.
He said that restructuring does not mean dividing Nigeria and argued that it would promote competition and economic growth among the different regions.
“Nigeria has grown beyond the level where governors should continue to converge in Abuja every month to share Federal Allocation.”
The former governor also underscored the need for the creation of an additional state in the South-East to bring it at par with other geo-political zones in the country.
Meanwhile, Kalu has admonished Nigerian youths to embrace peace and love and shun divisive tendencies.
In his keynote address on the theme of the JCI summit, which is the “role of an active youth in the society,” Kalu advised youths to channel their energies and intellectual endowment to national development.
Kalu charged them to eschew negative tendencies, including indulging in drugs, crime, prostitution and offering themselves to be used as canon fodders and thugs during elections.
He expressed joy that the nation was blessed with vibrant and intellectually-endowed youths, waiting to be harnessed for national development.
He said Nigerian youths should endeavour to mobilise, equip and reposition themselves to assume leadership roles in the society.
“You should demonstrate the capacity to lead and then struggle to take up leadership positions. Do not expect it should be given to you on a platter.
“You should get rid of the beggarly mentality, expecting that anybody would relinquish positions to you,” Kalu said.
In his brief speech, the 2017 JCI President, Chikelue Oguejiofor, said that the summit was organised for the cross-fertilisation of ideas on how they could prepare themselves to take up leadership positions in the country.
Oguejiofor, who thanked the Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation for partnering with the group, expressed the hope that the summit would be a life-changing event.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a major highpoint of the event was a roadshow along ‘Onu Ibinna Road’, Igbere, by members of JCI drawn from its various chapters across the country.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.