Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state and billionaire businessman, says Igbos are very good in commerce, and in “anything they do” — but not in politics.
In the latest edition of The Interview, Kalu said a number of the elite in the region are not only selfish, but they get their political calculations wrong.
Referring to the fractured relationship between him and Theodore Orji, his successor, Kalu said were Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos state governor an Ibo man, he could have betrayed Bola Tinubu, his predecessor.
“Igbos are their own worst enemies,” he said.
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“Let me tell you, there were more problems between (Asiwaju Bola) Tinubu and (Babatunde) Fashola than there were between me and TA Orji, but it is the discipline of the Yorubas that kept them at bay.
“Igbos have no discipline in terms of politics. They are very good traders; they’re good in anything they do, but they don’t understand politics.”
According to Azu Ishiekwene, managing director of The Interview, Kalu illustrated his point with a conversation he claimed to have had with President Muhammadu Buhari, who wondered aloud why previous high-profile Igbo appointees had done nothing for the region.
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Kalu also spoke on the Biafra agitation and the travails of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and allegations that while he governed Abia for eight years, his mother ruled.
3 comments
A leader picking a successor if not based on the pedigree of excellence & inherent ability of his intended successor & from among the stock of potential leaders earlier identified & in training (formal or informal) under the watch or monitoring of such leader or group recruiting; the frustrating error of judging a whole Nation as lacking Political sagacity & understanding will surface. Dr. Orji Uzor’s experience occured due to error of recruitment possibly based on self interest & instead of picking a successor who has a mind of his own & noted quality of past supports based on principle & strong to engage recruiter to a debate on issues & with own opinion. How can Dr. Orji Uzor judge a Nation like the Igbos that supported & demonstrated exceptional love & suppport to Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu till death wrongly? Dr.Orji Uzor must have been misquoted because I know he once repented & apologised to Abians for giving us T. A Orji which without doubt was a self centered choice that failed. If the choice was not self centered & did not fail from day one; what was achieved that favoured Abia State while romance lasted? Please Igbos like no other Nation, are know to serve masters & remaining commited to it in all fields including politics but not foolish followers. Fashola & Tinubu had serious challenges in their relationship but their common agenda Lagos State was abandoned to decay as Aba & other part of Abia State. Dr. Orji Uzor, coming to our common field, if a servant is given a business to manage but the business ending up unprofitable while the servant is partying, flying & building own edifice, I am trained even by you to adjudge such servant corrupt & self centered.
Please Nigerians let’s tell ourselves the truth Wat did Orji Kalu achieve road zero very thin zero all he was doing is selfish interest EFCC need to prob him and his successor.
kudos for Jhnnie C. Onwuzulike . How I wish that 60 % of Nigerians would think like you, our development would have triumphed over its greatest enemy, that is ethnicity; which the pretenders have employed for their selfish interest