Igbo group blasts Orji Kalu over anti- Nnamdi Kanu remarks

By Steve Oko

Pro -Igbo group, the Rising Sun, has knocked a former Governor of Abia State and senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, over his critical remarks on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Nnamdi Kanu, during his recent television interview.

The group also tackled Sen. Kalu on his claims that over 30,000 people died in South East due to the agitation IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group slammed Senator Kalu for “shamelessly defending Justice James Omotosho over his infamous verdict on Kanu.”

The statement signed by the Chairman, Maxwell Dede; and Coordinator, Father Augustine Odinmegwa, challenged Senator Kalu to produce evidence that the said 30,000 victims were killed by IPoB or on the orders of Kanu.

It read in part:”Our attention has been drawn to Sunday’s disgraceful interview by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, where he claimed that over 30,000 people had died due to the agitation by IPoB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Since Orji Uzor Kalu claims that over 30,000 people were killed in South East as a result of the agitation by Nnamdi Kanu, can he tell the world who authorized the said killings?

“Will Senator Kalu feign ignorance of the genocidal killing of IPoB members by security agencies without any provocations? Was he referring to the massacre of IPoB members praying at Nkpor and Onitsha or those praying at the National High School Aba, or Biafra agitators massacred in Port Harcourt during a pro-Trump rally?

“How could Orji Uzor Kalu justifiably blame IPoB members who are rather the hapless victims of the brutality of security operatives for an offence they are innocent of?”

The group accused Kalu of resorting to making unguarded remarks against Kanu, apparently to curry favour from the Presidency for selfish political gains.

It regretted that “instead of keeping quiet if he had nothing useful to say,” Senator Kanu chose to blame Kanu “over his angry reaction to the barefaced injustice meted to him by Justice Omotosho.”

“As if that were not enough, Senator Kalu began to make wild claims of his purported instrumentality in securing Kanu’s release in 2017. He also disparaged the Igbo and all those who felt disappointed over the said judgement which can only pass for travesty of justice.”

The group, however, said it was not surprised at the behaviour of the former Governor, saying he had portrayed himself as “a traitor”.

“Although we are embittered at such reckless remarks, we are however, not surprised because we know that a leopard can never change the colour of its skin. Senator Kalu, did not only confirm the long-held suspicion in many quarters that he is among the Igbo elite ready to play any role because of political interest.”

The group knocked Senator Kalu for comparing his behaviour during his prosecution over financial scandal, and Kanu’s reaction at the court.

“It is an insult on Ndigbo for Senator Kalu to attempt to shamelessly cite his said calmness during his trial for financial fraud, as opposed to Nnamdi Kanu’s alleged unruly behaviour at the court during his legal persecution called trial. Senator Kalu should understand that there is no nexus between the offence for which he was convicted and jailed; and the trumped-up charges, biased trial, of subsequent strange conviction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu should stop embarrassing himself in his desperation for political relevance. If not for Nigeria’s flawed electoral system, Orji Kalu and his type will have no business in governance”.

The group warned politicians to refrain from making political capital out of Kanu’s matter.

“We want to warm him and other serial Igbo traitors to desist from using Nnamdi Kanu’s matter to play politics. If he believes he has the powers and influence to get Kanu’s debacle resolved politically, what is restraining him from doing so all the while?

“As a chieftain of the ruling party, former Governor and political age-mate of President Ahmed Tinubu, Orji Uzor Kalu should not be waiting for anybody again to lead the move for political solution for Kanu’s release. He has unfettered access to the powers that be, and should leverage on that to do the needful.

“But what Ndigbo will not accept from Orji Uzor Kalu is any attempt to use Kanu’s matter to curry favour from the Presidency. He is only smart by half for thinking that he could resort to unguided utterances and reckless vituperation against the IPoB leader in order to win Tinubu’s favour, possibly for a return ticket in 2027.

” It is an open secret that Orji Uzor Kalu was among those who vigorously opposed Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023, when he openly campaigned for the the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. Nigerians are not daft as Senator Kalu thinks. They already know the real motive behind his suden love for President Tinubu.

“We warn Orji Uzor Kalu and his fellow political opportunists to refrain from further unguarded and treacherous remarks concerning Kanu’s ordeal. History will judge anyone who betrays his people for selfish gains.”