Posted by BIOLA AZEEZ, Umuahia on
GOVERNOR Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State has apologised to the people and government of Nigeria on behalf of the Igbos over the civil war, saying Nigerians should chart a new course towards reintegration...
GOVERNOR Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State has apologised to the people and government of Nigeria on behalf of the Igbos over the civil war, saying Nigerians should chart a new course towards reintegration.
Speaking with journalists in Umuahia at the weekend when a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Terry Waya, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government Lodge, with a message from the Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Kalu said Igbos should be forgiven for fighting the civil war.
The governor, who also pleaded with Nigerians and the government to forget the past, said it was a mistake on the part of the Igbos, saying the tribe should not be continuously punished for the mistake of the past.
'I was not part of the war, likewise many people in the present generation. Therefore, why should we continue to suffer for the mistake of the past. I think we should forge ahead with unity and cooperation needed to develop the country and take it to higher heights. There is no better time we need the support of one another than now, at least for our generation and generations yet unborn. We have to move forward", Governor Kalu said. The governor also called on the Igbos to give adequate support to the present PDP government in the country, adding that Igbos are a free-minded and enterprising people that are found even in the remotest part of the country.
Governor Kalu, who expressed his loyalty to the Vice President and President Obasanjo, admitted that he advises Atiku, adding that his pieces of advice were in the best interest of the country, the Igbos and Abia State.
He traced his relationship with the Vice President to his days at the University of Maiduguri, where he was a student activist, saying they had remained brothers and friends till date.
The governor, who said the time for war or fighting was over in the country, called on Nigerians to support President Obasanjo and allow him to concentrate on the development of the country.
He also advised the President to leave lasting a legacy behind him when he leaves office like he did when he was the head of state during his military reign in the country.
Governor Kalu, who said the greatest problem plaguing the state currently was that of erratic and unstable power supply, called on the Federal Government to privatise the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and make available constant electric power in the state.
Chief Waya, who had earlier told journalists while briefing the governor on his mission, said they should hold the governor responsible for the mistakes of the Vice President, adding that the governor's pieces of advice were the only ones that the Vice President needed.
The PDP stalwart added that Atiku is part of Igbos and holds the tribe dear to his heart, and promised that Governor Kalu would be supported on his future political aspirations.
Chief Waya, who expressed the optimism that Governor Kalu would lead Igbos to the political mainstream in the country, added that if the Igbos had five people like Governor Kalu in the South-East, the complaints of marginalisation by the people in the zone would cease.
The party stalwart also commended the governor on the development in the state, particularly the rehabilitation of the Government House and said that Governor Kalu was the best performing governor in the country.
'Governor Kalu is only concerned with fairness and justice, as it relates to equitable distribution of national resources in the country," Chief Waya said.