Former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu renews calls for the amnesty for Boko Haram saying it is in the interest of Igbos. Excerpts
You returned to the PDP at a time the party is being threatened by leadership crisis; is it something that you believe could be resolved soon?
I think it will be resolved quickly. The party has already taken the bull by the horns by sending out a high powered delegation led by the national chairman of the party to go round and ensure reconciliation. And that is what has been going on. I do not see any problem. Out of the nine governors that have been mentioned, I called two of them and they told me that they will never leave the party. I think some media are carrying this propaganda against the PDP suggesting that there is a problem.
PDP is a big family and there is bound to be disagreements but I believe we will settle ourselves. The crisis ridden PDP will be a solid PDP in the next few months.
You started a campaign recently for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction. What is the update on this?
The project is on course and all the Igbos are aligning with it. We are hoping that other Nigerians will negotiate with us and make it a success. We will think that as time draws nearer, our people will be working more because we believe that project is realisable; it is doable and it is obtainable. You said recently that the best platform for the Igbos to realise the presidency is the PDP.
How do you mean?
I said that because the Nigerian people have not paid the Igbos what they did for PDP. In 1999 the South-South and the South-East were the solid base of the PDP. The north was divided; it was only the South-Ssouth and the South East that were solid base of PDP. So I believe that on the basis of that the project is realisable under PDP. A major issue that has come up recently is the much sought amnesty for Boko Haram, which has divided the population. At a time you offered to lead negotiations with the group.
What are your views about the situation?
To me we cannot pay a price in one area and not pay price in another. Let Boko Haram leaders come out like the militants did, and the moment they do that they should be granted amnesty. If you can give amnesty to the militants you can also give to Boko Haram. This is what is killing the country. We must at all time stand on justice. When I talk like this people will say all kinds of nonsense but it is a question of fairness. Nigerians must start learning to stand for fairness.
As things are now, are you going to renew your bid to lead negotiations with the group?
At all time, I am always ready for the benefit of the peace of this nation; for the benefit of my Igbo brothers who are being killed all over. You can see that if anything happens in any part of the world against Muslims, Igbo shops will be burnt in Nigeria. This is not fair. It is not justifiable. I call on northern elders and northern Ulamas and all the people to come together and stop this criminal behaviour. Islam that I know is not criminality; Islam preaches peace and unity. During the civil war, my father had a lot of houses in the north, and when he came back after the war, some people who were looking after the houses counted all the monthly rents from the time he left and gave it to him.
So who is the better man?
I am not holding forth for anybody but I am saying that is the quality of the good Muslim. It also happened to so many of my uncles. So I believe that we should preach to our younger ones the values that we were known for. The northern elites and the governors should open up the way for the talakawas to have formal education.
When you made the offer to lead the negotiations, was it that you knew how to get the ghosts as they’re being referred to by Mr President and talk to them?
Somebody said he needed so and so people to come and negotiate; he’s not a ghost. He’s just the person I’ll contact. And we’ll be able to talk on the table.
Which means if we’re looking for them now, we can get them?
This thing should not be the issue of Christians or Muslims. I see some people taking extreme views. If you’re giving pardon to one section of the country, the other ones should not be ghost. Call them; they’ll come. The militants were invited by the Federal Government and they went. So, invite the Boko Haram people and let’s have a peaceful country. The Niger-Delta is quiet now.
Do you think the pardon granted to the former governor of Bayelsa, Chief Alamieyeseigha, is right in the present circumstance?
The president has power to grant pardon, and he has exercised that power; whether he is right in your eyes, or he’s right in the eyes of God, the president has done what is within the competence of his office. He has not acted out of office.
What will you say about the opposition to that, even from foreign countries?
That is the beauty of democracy. The president has powers. Has he used the powers? Is it constitutional? Is it allowed? These are the questions. Then whether it is immoral, is another issue. So, the president has exercised his constitutional powers, and people are bound to agree and disagree. That is why we’re in democracy. The opposition parties are trying to put their house in order so as to challenge the PDP;
Are you worried?
Well, I’m worried because the PDP needs to wake up, and it will be better for Nigeria to have two-party-system with other minor parties; it’s good for the country, because this country needs two major political parties. So, if you don’t win, the other one will win so that democracy can be stable.
What is your disposition to the roles of the National Assembly regarding the state of the nation?
What the National Assembly is doing in respect to the amendment of the constitution is not right because they amended the constitution for themselves. They should amend the constitution to benefit the people of Nigeria. Number one, they should make the office of the National Assembly to be part-time. Number two, they should abolish the Senate and the House of Representatives; they should have one chamber to save cost, because crude oil will soon finish. Our costs are increasing every day. We are in a major trouble. The problem is that you elect people that have no economic ideas; Nigeria is being run on the basis of Waste. Nigeria is being run on the basis of family affairs. It’s high time people that want to run for president are elected. Let reluctant candidates stop being president of Nigeria. People must wait; people must work for it; people must be able to look for it. You can only give what you cherish most. So, I believe Nigerians should stand up and let’s see how we’re going to rebuild our economy. We must rebuild our economy, then we’ll stabilize politically. Another issue in this same constitutional amendment is the idea of whether to give local governments autonomy or not.
As a former governor, can you say sincerely that local governments do not deserve to be autonomous like some governors believe
Sincerely between me and my God, local governments should have autonomy. What is going on there is rubbish; it’s something your ears cannot believe. It’s not going to strengthen the democratic process. Let us stop being mediocre; let us start telling ourselves the truth. We’re all part of the problem; we should also come and be part of the solutions.
