Orji Uzor Kalu
Former Governor of Abia State and former Chairman, Board of Trustees, Progressive People Alliance, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has been advised to suspend his decision to quit politics because it is defeatist and not in the best interest of the country.
A group, Politically Conscious Nigerians, said if Kalu decides to stand by his decision to quit his party and politics, it is Nigeria that would be the biggest loser as a major constructive critic would have been lost in the process.
According to a statement by president, Taiwo Osofisan, and Secretary General, Peter Okodua, the group said there was the need for Kalu to reconsider his position no matter how betrayed he feels by the political class because “when good men quit doing what makes the society better, they will only leave the scene for those who will make things worse for the entire human race.”
They argued that Kalu had been a strong voice for the country in trying times and that he should not quit at a time the country needs him.
“In the years when Nigeria went through turbulent times, you stood like a Rock of Gibraltar, taking positions where a lot of people feared to speak. It is your likes that can make this country better through constructive criticism of what is going on in the country,” the statement noted.
The group cited the recent statement by Kalu on the killing of Nigerians of South-east extraction by members of Boko Haram in the north, asking rhetorically.
“Did you not notice that after you spoke there has been calm? Did you not notice that your position that Igbos will retaliate further attacks has put in check the activities of these few criminal who were terrorising innocent citizens?"
According to the group, “That should tell you that your voice carries a lot of weight and as such it is not yet time for you to quit politics and leave it to men and women who are simply out to milk the country and offer nothing.”
“Your participation in politics has been largely to offer service to mankind, with you even using your personal resources for that purpose. Nigeria cannot afford to watch you quit at this time. Not even when you still have the energy, vibrancy and intellectual capacity to continue.”