Task Of Moving Ndigbo Forward Falls On Orji Kalu And Me, Says Okorocha

Senator Rochas Okorocha representing Imo West senatorial zone, yesterday, claimed he and the Senate chief whip, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, were naturally positioned to chart a new course for the Igbo politics.

Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State, revealed this when he ran into Kalu during their separate visits to the house of the first vice national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Southeast, Dr Julius Anyim Nyerere, in Abia.

The former governor called for the reunification of Igbo political stakeholders, explaining that his collaboration with Kalu as well as other Igbo leaders would provide a robust platform for Igbo generations to borrow a leaf.

In his words, “Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu is late. Leaders like Jim Nwobodo and Arthur Nzeribe are no longer active as before. This vacuum must be filled up, hence the responsibilities have fallen on other people’s shoulders, and the shoulders are on Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and myself. It is therefore important that we collectively discuss issues to unite the Igbo nation. If a child knows what killed his father, he wouldn’t allow himself to die the same way.”

He regretted that former Igbo leaders bequeathed wrong political ideologies on the current leaders, citing Jim Nwobodo and Alex Ekwueme, as well as Sam Mbakwe and Arthur Nzeribe as Igbo icons who did not resolve their differences. In his view, “We have to carve out a niche so we don’t transfer this to subsequent generations of Ndigbo. This is why we must profess love within our enclave.”

Kalu, a former Abia governor, expressed his desire for long-lasting peace in the APC, Southeast unit, adding that he would be delighted to see Okorocha and the incumbent Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, close ranks for the peace of the Igbo.

Quoting him, “I’m happy because Owelle has spoken so well. I want peace to return to the APC in the Southeast. I am the highest politically elected office-holder in the Southeast by virtue of my office as the chief whip. In the Senate, I am ranked number four, and I have never taken it for granted. The only problem I am facing is to resolve the issue between Governor Uzodinma and Senator Okorocha. I will be fulfilled politically any day both of them decide to work together. My dream is to have roundtable discussions with Governor Uzodinma, Okorocha, Senator Ken Nnamani, Minister Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Chris Ngige and Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and others. Once we achieve that, the sky will be our starting point.”