A one-time Minister of Finance and political leader in Igbo land, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu has applauded former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu for his recent decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a press statement made available to The New Diplomat recently, Dr. Kalu expressed his approval and support for the decision of the former governor to join the ruling national party, adding that he was convinced that the decision was based on the strategic political interest of the Igbo people.
Said he: “I wish to unreservedly add my voice of total approval and support to all who have hailed the decision of His Excellency, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, to join the APC, along with many of his friends and associates.
“It is my opinion that Orji Uzo Kalu’s joining of APC is based on the strategic political interest of Ndigbo, an indisputable part of the tripod that holds together Nigeria’s political firmament.”
Kalu regretted that the Igbo nation has made itself irrelevant for too long due to its inadvertent adoption of a minority posture in Nigerian politics in spite of the great contribution of its past heroes to the struggle for Nigerian and African independence of the country, urging other prominent Ndigbos who are still hibernating in other small political formations to take a cue from the former governor and join the major political power bloc, APC.
He advised that it was time for the Ndigbo to “squarely build squarely back into the High Table where the major decisions are taken”, adding that Orji Kalu’s decision to join APC was in harmony with a broader Igbo long term objectives to pull out of irrelevance which some are presently assigning to Ndibo in spite of its national demographic strength.
“The move by Gov. OUK is in strategic synch with broader Igbo long term objectives to reject Igbo irrelevance that many are assigning to Ndigbo in spite of our continued dominance in other national demographics! It should be applauded and emulated. Let’s organize for our numbers and implicit strength to count maximally! Let’s play smart politics and reserve emotions for our essentially non – political conclaves”, Idika Kalu submitted.
Still emphasizing on the strength of the Ndigbo in national reckoning, Kalu stressed that they are “too big and too strategic to play in the sidelines, adding that “We must re-enter the main bowl of political contestation from viable national parties.”
The former Minister of Finance in the Babangida administration, while advising others among the political class to join hands with Orji Kalu on how to reposition Igbo politically to achieve a long term strategic objectives, urged the Alaigbo Development Foundation and other subgroups to synergize and rebuild Igbo economy, tradition and culture through community responsibility to support the renewed engagement in national politics.
