Date Published: 04/29/09

Atiku: Orji Kalu Got it Wrong

For sometime now, governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu had devoted the better part of his public commentaries to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The former governor is aggrieved that Atiku visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo and that there are indications that he might be returning to the PDP.

Orji Kalu is particularly angry that Atiku is taking these steps when those of them who followed him in the struggle against Obasanjo had their businesses attacked. He cited the case of his Slok Air as example.

Every right thinking Nigerian will disagree with Kalu on two grounds.

When Atiku led other PDP governors against Obasanjo in 2003, it was because they all felt the man was not performing well as President. When they fought against his third term agenda, it was because they felt that was against the Nigerian Constitution and threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Any discerning Nigerian will then conclude that Atiku and the governors fought Obasanjo and PDP because they shared some ideals not that they were working together because they loved each other’s faces.

If Kalu believed in the ideals of that battle, he should therefore not blame Atiku for what befell his businesses. If he truly believes in democracy, he should see that as a sacrifice he made for democracy and not for Atiku. It is high time he realized this. Each time he repeats this line, he only portrays himself as an adult who could not decide for himself or who did not realize the need to believe in some ideals.

Secondly, his claim that his accounts were investigated and confiscated because of Atiku is also an attempt to pool the wool over the eyes of Nigerians. Is Kalu saying if somebody is suspected as stealing public funds, he should not be investigated because he was defending one individual whether a Vice President or President? Kalu should defend himself against the allegations of fraud against him instead of diverting attention.

Every public official must account for his deed and no attempt to blame Atiku will immune him from his present trial for the alleged corruption.

Nicholas Anyanwu,

Independence Layout,

Enugu,

Enugu State