By News Critic reporters
Following his recent statement describing the suspended RUGA settlement proposed by the federal government as a good idea which does not deserve discussing, a non-governmental organization that operates under the aegis of Abia Citizens Forum, ACF, has described Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as a northern apologist, who is struggling to please president Muhammadu Buhari in order to escape jail in his ongoing corruption trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Kalu had while speaking with the press in his office on Friday said that he supports RUGA because it is a good idea. He also spoke on how he introduced RUGA settlement by providing land, water and electricity for herders in Umuahia as governor of Abia state.
He said ‘’The RUGA plan as a good idea, it’s not an issue anybody is to be discussing”. According to Kalu security is very important and the president can decide to work with whoever he trusts, irrespective of what part of the country they might come from.
“But when you look at it, a service chief is like a personal staff of the president, they are not really constitutionally owned because you can only work with military men that you trust,” he said.
“I can take you down to memory lane, all those who have been heads of state, they did the same thing the president did, there is nothing new.” He dismissed the allegation by South East that the region is being marginalized under Buhari’s government, saying it is not true that Buhari is marginalizing Igbo in appointments.
However, the group in a statement issued in Umuahia signed by its convener, Jerome Kalu and made available to News Critic, said that now that Kalu has gotten the chief whip position in the senate he has suddenly realised that Igbo are not being marginalized.
‘’What Kalu is telling us is that his becoming the chief whip of the senate has corrected all the marginalization the south east is suffering in the hands of a nepotistic government of the APC.’’
The group went further to say that everything is now okay with Buhari’s appointments because Kalu is made chief whip, an insignificant post, adding that the Igbo are today being looked down on in Nigeria because of the political activities of characters like senator Kalu, who is ready to trade with the future of Ndigbo for his individual gains.
Also, Barrister Uchenna Agbani, writing on his facebook wall said, that Igbos are being denigrated in Nigeria is because of the integrity default of these Hausa-Fulani Igbos, pointing out that there are many of them populating the political landscape of Igbo land. ‘’I don’t think anyone will support him (Kalu) to run for presidency any time he is ready to throw his hat into the ring’’.
Another Igbo political commentator said if not for the rigged election, Kalu will never had been in the senate today, he will be facing trial. The general opinion among many easterners is that Kalu is a traitor, who believes that supporting the North against his own people will take him to his political destination and free him from corruption trial.
Orji Kalu is facing N7.1 billion corruption trial by the EFCC at a Lagos high court. The trial has been ongoing for about 10 years. It borders on money laundering and diversion of public funds during his tenure as governor. The last time the matter came up at the court it was adjourned indefinitely by the judge.
News Critic reports that few weeks back, Kalu at his home town Igbere while celebrating his senatorial victory told Igbos that they should not expect anything from Buhari’s government because they did not vote for him.
