Time to Sheathe Swords

Hilda Ifegwu
This appeal is borne out of genuine concern for the peace, decorum and safety of the Abia polity, which has been under a series of attacks and desolation from former Governor Orji Kalu. He pulled out of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2006 and formed the Progressive Peoples Alliance. That PPA was well intentioned at emergence reflected in its early achievements. PPA hit the ground running, electing the likes of Theodore Orji, Ikedi Ohakim, etc.

Soon after the beautiful landing like the mayflower ship, Kalu edged out the people-oriented and democratically minded PPA members. Is it not a surprise that a party which had two vibrant South-east states in the Igbo heartland is now struggling to stay afloat under the regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

It is unfortunate that since Kalu left PDP, he has made frantic efforts to re-join PDP for some intentions hard to know. If Kalu’s efforts are genuine, there is nothing wrong in one retracing his steps. But Kalu’s moves, from all indications, seem to be geared towards destroying PDP.

Kalu served for two consecutive terms as governor. He made some controversial claims to a return to PDP. But after all the claims of membership, he went to PPA to contest for the senate the second time in 2015. It
In the senatorial election of 2015, Kalu placed a distant third after Ohuabunwa and David Ogba. All said and done, he got a judgement from the appeal court for a rerun. The rerun went freely and fairly on March 5 with negligible hitches in few areas. This can be affirmed by many groups, especially, independent observers. He lost the rerun poll.

This is a clear indication that his electoral strength and value can only give him a third position, which was what he recorded in the first election. The PDP did not bother with the spurious votes since he lost by the rule of electoral laws which states that winning is by simple majority and that reruns should hardly be subjected to inconclusive categories. We can recall the cases of Ngige and Dora Akunyili in Anambra State and others.

Since after the election, Kalu has invested heavily in name calling and blackmail. He does not have to insult fellow citizens who are entitled to basic freedoms as contained in our laws. He got judegment from the court previously and can still go back there. That he lost is his problem, as politics is a game of numbers and votes. Votes were cast in Abia North and counted. Almost on daily basis, our man was endorsed by highly placed Nigerians. Despite these media hypes, he failed woefully.

Let him leave Abia PDP and Mao Ohuabunwa alone as membership is still open, he can now join PDP.
Come to think of it, does Kalu intend to win? He is in the habit of contesting all contestables, like senate and FIFA. The other positions are still open like, Oha neze Ndi Igbo, chairman of Bende Local Government and chairman of Igbere Union.

On a serious note, good leadership comes from consistency of purpose and honesty in words and deeds. Good followership will always lead to good leadership. In Nigeria today, Bola Tinubu has emerged a modern Nigerian leader. He led a party from opposition to majority. It is no surprise because he has been consistent; dragging along men he has mentored many years ago. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Information Lai Mohamed, Minister of Power Babatunde Fashola, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and others have migrated from Lagos State to national status. Kalu should learn from this. The world is moving fast along truth and realism.

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