Following his reported support for the creation of the controversial Ruga for Fulani herders settlement in the South East, South East leaders yesterday gave the former governor of Abia state Chief Orji Uzor-Kalu 48 hours ultimatum to tender unreserved apologies to the Igbos people.
The aggrieved leaders also slammed the former governor over his claim that marginalisation of the South East was over under President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference in Abuja, Hon. Uche Okoroafor, said “we have given him 48 hours from now to retract his remarks and apologise to our people or face the wrath of the Igbos.”
The leaders claimed that the former governor has become a willing tool in the hands of “those who are championing the continued marginalization of the South East.”
They challenged the Igbos to rise up against Chief Kalu and his pay masters, who the group alleged are desperate to forcefully convert part of Igbo land for Fulani herders. Chief Kalu was reported to have justified the Ruga policy of the federal government describing the widespread controversy over the policy as “unnecessary.”
Recall that Chief Kalu had told journalists during an interactive session in Abuja on Friday how he donated large hectares of land in the state to Fulani cow dealers while he was in office 1999 _ 2007. He claimed that he and other Igbos are also involved on “cow business.”
Berating Chief Kalu, the Igbo leaders described his support for the proposed controversial Ruga policy as unfortunate, and another display of betrayal, hatred, and insult of the Igbo nation by the former governor. “How can a self-acclaimed Igbo leader dismiss the brazen marginalization of the South East as untrue.
“We are not surprised by the many anti-Igbo remarks by the former governor and we have always seen him as a drowning man who is very desperate to do anything to free himself from the N 7.6 billion fraud allegation hanging on his neck.
“His reported support for Ruga against the wish of our people has further vindicated us in our earlier position that the former governor was insensitive to the plight of the Igbos and should stop parading himself as Igbo leader.
We are aware the former governor is already discussing with his pay masters on how to convince the South East governors to donate land for Fulani settlement in the zone.
“He’s doing everything possible to please the powers that be to intervene in his long-delayed trial over the N7.6billion as well as in the ongoing hearing on a petition challenging his electoral Victory in the last National Assembly election.
“We state here that such electoral fraud that brought chief Kalu to the Senate cannot stand and we believe the judiciary as the last hope for the common man will help right this brazen injustice,” the group said.
The leaders also described as an unfortunate claim by the former governor that the South East states have so far benefitted more from the present administration than any other past regime. It was reported that the former governor had said that “President Muhammadu Buhari in spite of the alleged lopsidedness of appointments being attached to his government, has done more for the South Eastern geo-political zone than any other previous governments in terms of projects execution.
In terms of project execution in the South East for example, President Muhammadu Buhari led government is doing far, far better than the previous ones consciously voted for by the people of the area.”
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