It’s Imperative We Discuss Unity Of Nigeria At The Conference –Kalu Delegates to the ongoing National Conference should not be barred from discussing any issue that has been considered critical to the strengthen, prosperity, or even the unity or disunity of the country, says former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. According to Kalu, it would serve the country and its citizens no good to exclude certain topics or issues in the ongoing conference on the grounds that they could tear the country apart. Kalu said the fear that Nigeria would collapse if some issues that affect the unity of country were discussed was unfounded, and that it was better for the people to avail themselves of the opportunity of this conference to talk about those particular issues and therefore put paid to all associated fear. He expressed optimism that Nigeria would not break apart. Kalu said: “Nigeria will not break; we are not breaking to anywhere. In fact, we Igbo have decided that we are not breaking to anywhere. “I personally think that Mr. President was wrong on that occasion when he said there were some no go areas for delegates to talk about. This conference has given us the opportunity to discuss our problems; to discuss our sentiments, weaknesses, unity, our anger, and to discuss our believe in the country.” Kalu, who had a press conference with aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, shortly after his returned from the United Kingdom late Monday also spoke on Nigeria’s rising unemployment crisis and how to resolve it as well as on the frosty relationship that exists between him and the Abia State governor, Theodore Orji. Excerpts: What is your take on the ongoing National Conference, especially given the fears that Nigeria would disintegrate if the unity of the country is included as a topic for deliberation? Well, as far as I am concerned the conference is like a necessary evil. It has become important for us that we must discuss our problems instead of keeping our problems in our mind. I feel it is good for us to discuss our problems as Nigerians. The greatest challenge that we have today is for people to discuss their problems, know what their problems are, and then work out how to resolve the problems. I am aware that many people are saying it is not right to call for this National Conference, but I disagree; it is right to call for the National Conference. And I am happy that we are having most of our elders there and some few young people as delegates. It is an opportunity, which is also good for the elders to retell the history of the country, on how the country started, to the young ones. I am not one of those who are saying that a lot of young people should have been in the conference. With the mixture of the old and the new, the young generation would know more about our country. They will know why we are experiencing what we are going through at present. I personally think that Mr. President when he said there were no-go areas for delegates to talk about. No! There should not be such thing, as a no-go area in the discussion of Nigeria’s problems, even as it concerns the unity of the country. Mr. President might have been thinking aloud or the adviser on that issue did not advise him well. Delegates should discuss everything, including the unity of the country. It will help the country to become stronger and unified. We have fought one civil war and we can never fight the second civil war; no country goes for a second civil war after surviving the first. For me, I want to see a peaceful Nigeria. And this conference has given us the opportunity to discuss our problems, to discuss our sentiments, weaknesses, unity, our anger, and to discuss our belief in the country. We will continue to bear anger at one another, until we are able to sit down and discuss these things, so that we can understand one another better. I can’t stop saying it, that this conference is one good and unique opportunity for us to discuss all the national issues that are at stake and that trouble us. Therefore, I want to tell members of the National Conference that they should discuss everything, including even the unity of Nigeria. Nigeria will not break; we are not breaking. In fact, we Igbo have decided that we are not breaking to anywhere because it will be a disadvantage, if Nigeria disintegrates. If you notice the trend now, you see that the European Union is coming together. America is acquiring more entity to become Northern America and everybody is coming together. I have heard the statement of the Lamido of Adamawa, as it concerns the secession plan, but the Lamido is just being a statesman. Nobody can challenge the unity of the country. We believe in the unity of the country and nobody can dispute that. So Nigeria is not going to break. But then, let them discuss the issues that are making us not to have this unity as a nation please. Some youths lost their lives recently while attempting to get employment in the Nigerian Immigration Service. Are you not worried that the rising unemployment among youths is posing a great threat to the country? Well, I have always said this concerning Nigeria’s unemployment problem: the government should encourage businessmen to build more factories, to build more places to employ people. There is corruption everywhere in the world; so that is not an excuse that it is because of corruption that we are not creating jobs. In America, there is corruption everywhere; there is corruption in the UK, where I am coming from now. There is corruption in Germany; there is corruption anywhere in the world. I am not afraid of saying the truth, but these people in these other countries, what they do is that they kind of find a way to utilise their own corruption in-house. People that have access to funds create wealth and generate employment. Those who calling for the sack Abba Moro don’t understand what governance is all about. It is not the fault of the minister. The minister wants to create jobs for Nigerians and that is the truth. I am not speaking for Abba Moro. I have never met him in my life. I don’t know who he. But he tried to create jobs. But for people calling for his resignation, it is a shame because he tried to put another alternative where people will have free and fair employment opportunity. One of the problems we have is power generation and distribution, this affects manufacturing firms and the industries that want to create jobs. That is a very big problem for entrepreneurs. They are privatising the power sector, but this is not my own style of privatising the sector. The power sector could have been privatised by calling on some multi-nationals from developed countries, like America and UK and also encouraging some Nigerians to join them, owning 20, 30 percent equity. It should not have been a situation that is totally given to Nigerians. A lot of people have expressed worry over the nature of the relationship between you and your state governor, Theodore Orji, so much that he doesn’t want you in the PDP. What exactly is the source of the problem between the two of you? I don’t have a cordial relationship with the governor of my state. However, I have never criticised him in the press, either openly or secretly. He will soon give his report card to Abia people, the very people that he is governing. I have a cordial relationship with the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. And the reason I don’t have a cordial relationship with my governor is that my he thinks he is a mini-God. And I wish him well. Let him lead Abia people with his conscience. This is what I told him the day I handed over to him as the governor. I had said: ‘lead us with your conscience.’ I only asked him to lead us with his conscience. If his conscience is good enough for the people of Abia, I don’t have a problem with him. The people of Abia will either agree or disagree with him. I don’t have any problem with him. I have never had any personal contact with him and I will not have until he leaves office. Insecurity caused by terrorists groups and other violent crime appears to be on the rise in the country. Does it not bother you? The state of insecurity in the country is becoming a reoccurring decimal. I think the Federal Government should invest more on intelligence establishments. It is the same thing I have been saying, getting our intelligence services to do the right thing and nip the problem on the bud early enough is more important than men carrying guns on the road. It is just like some policemen in Abia State breaching the right of journalists. Policemen going after and arresting some journalists breach the fundamental rights of free press. The Commissioner of Police in Abia State does not understand what the constitution is all about. The Inspector General of Police understands the laws of this country and understands that journalists have right of existence. So I want to advise the commissioner of police in Abia. I am appealing to Mr. President to have a second look on that commissioner in Abia before they will have another Mbu in Abia State. The Sun.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:27:28 +0000
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