Orji Uzor Kalu, a man
of the people @ 53
By Odimegwu Onwumere
Once every year,
somebody must remember his birthday. Some persons celebrate theirs in a
majestic style, while others just think-over it. Reasons for these vary among
individuals. It is the motive of this treatise to memorize a former Governor of
Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as he clocks 53 on April 21, 2013.
While friends and
well-wishers of Kalu are preparing to celebrate with him in the 36 states of the
federation, in Europe, Asia, other African countries and around the world, it
is essential to keep-in-mind that there is no amount of party – be it grand or
ordinary – that will surpass the fact that Kalu is alive today. Any day a
person is alive is one biggest quiet celebration on its own, even though that
it is not amplified. This is why the Igbo would say that Odi ndu kele Chi.
(Any living should thank his God).
Kalu is a friend of
the people who has helped numerous people both financially, emotionally and in
anything positive. Some he knew, many he did not know. He has filled a lot of
people’s sorrow with happiness, joy and peace. He cannot make a list of the
people he has assisted in life. However, one content of the help that he has
rendered to mankind that does not vary to suit any person in particular is
humility. If Kalu were a kid, due to the tremendous help he has turned-to
people, on this occasion of his birthday, many would have taken him to the
market and buy him balloons, whistle, paper-kite, toys and other children’s
fanciful items.
While a host of
peoples around the globe are in the festive mood to celebrate with Kalu,
without doubt, he is busy in prayers for his dear life and for providence
making him who he is today wealth-wise, but among all, as a man who is loved,
admired and adored by many friends than perceived foes. As a token of love to
appreciate him, at his Igbere hometown of Abia State, Kalu’s kinsmen and
kinswomen have been celebrating his 53rd birthday remembrance since the past
one month. At his Neya country home, the atmosphere is an epoch one. What
people have not eaten and drank are not in the market. The significant aspect
of this festivity is the cake which was in the shape of a beautiful house,
resembling Kalu’s expensive and expansive compound that was cut. All these the
villagers have done in acknowledging that their son is alive today to witness
his 53rd birthday.
It is something to
cheer about that Kalu who was born without a golden spoon, but not in the absent
of a spoon, has become a personality that is drowned in gifts of thanks-giving
from people around the world that cut across creed, culture, tradition and
religion. It is worthy of praise that Kalu who was not born into an upper-class
family has taken his lower-middle-class family to the upper-class family. The
momentous aspect of this year’s birthday tribute to Kalu is that the world is
very particular about observing it because of his years of very active thorough
service to mankind; though since his birth, Kalu has been regularly celebrated
every year. As a central figure that all eyes are set on, on this birthday
occasion, Kalu’s joy knows no bounds, and is thoughtful of the passing year and
the year to come.
Another exceptional aspect of this year’s birthday is
that it comes when Kalu who hates evil has taken to coordinating an
anti-corruption war in Africa, which is supposed to be profound in South Africa
this May, having stakeholders with part of European Union, the United Nations,
some diplomats from the United States and other Western countries. In this bid,
Kalu is crying that government agencies in Africa have failed to fight
corruption; hence the use of Non-Governmental Organisation to fight corruption
ensued. Kalu vehemently frowns at politicians, civil servants who are
stunningly financial rich today, but were paupers before they assumed their
different leadership positions.
Kalu is using his
birthday to enlighten people that corruption is not only synonymous with those
in government, but there are jokers in all the spheres of human endeavours. He
is one politician who has suffered politically-motivated cases in the hands of
the authorities, losing many of his assets in politics. He lost two banks,
offshore companies, building platforms and an airline he came to power with,
when he was a former governor. He has been severally molested by the
authorities. An example was in 2007 when traducers launched a vilification
campaign against him that an anti-graft agency was looking for him. He was in
London and called Ibrahim Lamorde, a Czar of the agency that he was coming to
Nigeria. He told Lamorde the time that he was going to land in Nigeria – 5a.m –
and even specified his place of landing which was Abuja, instead of Lagos. He
also told Lamorde that by 11a.m., he would be in Lamorde’s office.
Kalu would not be
celebrating today if his God was and is not always with him. What was his
voluntary return was made to look like caught of a suspect after a hard chase.
One Nuhu Ribadu of the anti-graft agency came to the airport with an arsenal of
journalists and cameramen to arrest Kalu as he landed in Nigeria. They tried to
rubbish him but here is the great son of Ndigbo and a citizen of Nigeria
without blemish; a man who has never been afraid of who will lock him up or use
rules that are not in line with the constitution to chase him. Kalu’s birthday
today tells the story of a man who was governor at 39 and lost many of his
businesses, but is here today stronger at 53, than the political demagogues wanted
to feeble him.
Kalu’s fears at this
year’s birthday are not his, are not that he’s being persecuted by the
authorities, but that the country is gradually ebbing to a point where anybody
can do anything he or she likes, because the leaders are not able to come
together and address this issue, hence law and order are being broken down. He
has not been happy that Nigeria has a lot of problems but has always said that
if Nigerians are all part of the problem, they should all be part of the
solution. Without equivocation Kalu has been part of the solutions to solving
majority of the problems besetting the country.
One time Student
Union leader and House of Representative member, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has served
as Chairman of the Borno Water Board and of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank
Limited, before he was governor of Abia State, from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.
In his capacity, he founded the Progressive People's Alliance (PPA), where he
was as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, before he was a presidential
candidate in the April 2007 general elections. These are not excluding his
excelling in business, politics, and philanthropy, and being one of the big
employers of labour in Nigeria, which are within banking,
oil/telecommunication, import, financing, insurance, publishing, real estate,
shipping and manufacturing. He is also a member of many national and
international organizations, with his business offices in Ghana, Benin
Republic, Sierra-Leone, South Africa, Togo, South Korea, Singapore, United
Kingdom, United States, the Gambia, Liberia, Botswana and Cote D’Ivoire, but
not limited to these.
Kalu is not only
known as a businessman and politician, he is also a household name in sports.
Accounts have proved that he’s the chairman Nigeria Judo Federation; and
Enyimba Football Club of Aba won the trophy for Nigerian League back-to-back
for the first time in the more than 38 years history of the African CAF League
Cup Competition. These were achieved through Kalu’s benevolent efforts. In 2004,
the club defeated Esperance F.C. of Tunisia to win the trophy the second time,
which was crowned Super Cup in 2004/2005.
As stated, Kalu did
not win in politics only. He has won many local and international awards. The
Industrialist of the Year awards by the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Trade and
Industry was regarded as the prominent. Others were given as Humanitarian Award
by the Humanitarian Club of the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka;
Volunteer Award by the International Association of Volunteers; Youngest Bank
Chairman Award by the famous Top Magazine when he became the chairman of
Cooperative and Commerce Bank in 1987; a special award by the European union in
Brussels, Belgium, and the National Merit Award of the Member of the Order of the
Niger (MON); Special Award by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
Fellow Bauchi Polytechnic, Fellowship Institute of Certified Management
Accountants, and the prestigious Leon Sullivan Award by the World Bank,
Washington; and not limited to being a visitor of Miami Dave County in the
State of Florida, United States of America.
This dude with over
450 traditional titles to his honour and several books to his credit, went
through his academic career, starting at Christ the King School, Aba for his primary
education, Eziama High School, Aba; Government College, Umuahia for secondary
education and tertiary education at University of Maiduguri; Abia State
University, Uturu, where he obtained B.Sc in Political Science; Harvard
University Graduate Business School (AMP 153) Boston, USA., IEA Certificate by
USAID; honorary doctorate degrees in Law by the University of Port Harcourt,
Abia State University, Uturu, and City State University, Los Angeles, USA.
Among all, may Kalu’s
God grant him an Igbo presidency in 2015 through his Njiko Igbo, when he would be 55.
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