Posted by By IKENNA EMEWU on
It was a rousing and grand reception for Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State on Thursday at the Imo State capital when the World Igbo Congress (WIC) endorsed his candidacy as the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) presidential candidate for the presidential election.
It was a rousing and grand reception for Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State on Thursday at the Imo State capital when the World Igbo Congress (WIC) endorsed his candidacy as the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) presidential candidate for the presidential election.
Into the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Kalu had a triumphant entry as there was rousing ovation for him by the crowd. The Abia Governor later took the podium to address a crowd that was agog with joy for his resolute stance to pursue the cause and quest for Igbo presidency to the letter.
Kalu's endorsement was at the conference of the World Igbo Congress annual parley where the group, an international union of Nd'Igbo accepted that Kalu met the required standards to represent Nd'Igbo and to lead the nation as a president.
A resolution of WIC to announce Kalu's endorsement was signed by Ichie Chibuzo Onwuchekwa, the WIC chairman.
The group said it carefully reviewed the political experience, leadership qualities and other relevant criteria and agreed that Kalu meets all the standards and therefore enjoys the blessings of the WIC and by extension the Igbo race to vie for the nation's number one position.
WIC called on all Igbo to exploit the last days of the voters' registration and register en masse to enable them vote for Kalu at the presidential election in April.
Governor Kalu took the rally at Owerri by storm as he gallantly mounted the stage with songs of praises with which he charged the crowd. After offering praises to God and what could have passed for prayers, the Abia Governor eulogized what he called the great virtues of Nd'Igbo but however lamented that the race has not been favoured in the leadership of the nation since her independence 47 years ago.
During his speech of acceptance of the endorsement, he called on all Nigerians to pay Nd'Igbo a debt of equity, justice and fairness owed her because of the past marginalisation and vote an Igbo.
Kalu however emphasized that he is not in the race just because Igbos need a fair deal or on quota basis but because he is also qualified and politically experienced to lead the nation to greater heights
He promised the nation that the era of bad leadership and dictatorship which he said has since 1999 characterised the leadership at the federal level would be a thing of the past and his administration would change the nation to a state with respect for the rights of the citizens and the rule of law.
The endorsement of Kalu Thursday came as the second after he had been earlier endorsed by the Ohanaeze Nd'Igbo in Enugu after the group's meeting to review the fate of Nd'Igbo in the coming elections.
By coincidence, Governor Kalu is the only one that still remains in the presidential race among the three Governors the government of US endorsed as competent to lead the nation as president in 2007.