Between Orji Uzor Kalu And Arthur Nzeribe

Mazi Omife I. Omife
Mbuze Mbaukwu

Somebody was arguing that Dr Orji Uzor Kalu is following the political footsteps of late Senator Arthur Nzeribe.

And I said that there is no way anybody can compare Orji Uzor Kalu with Arthur Nzeribe as it concerns Igbo political interest.

No doubt, there are some similarities between the two.

Both are eminent Igbo sons.

The two are prominent Nigerians.

Both are controversial in their own ways.

That is about all they share in common.

Now let’s face it.

1. Arthur Nzeribe so much believed in Igbo cause but many people don’t know the facts. He came into politics just before 1983 elections, at a time when there were five major political parties in the country – NPN, UPN, NPP, GNPP and PRP.

Out of these, NPN was regarded as the party of the political timbers and calibers. But Nzeribe joined the NPP which was perceived as Igbo party to demonstrate his commitment to Igbo cause.

2. When Orji Uzor Kalu came back from his political Sabbatical leave, he joined the APC which is generally perceived as Northern party.
3. When the NPN was sharing rice, salt and stockfish during the campaign TO INTIMIDATE NPP, Arthur Nzeribe came to the rescue of NPP in his famous declaration. “We shall face the NPN rice for rice, salt for salt, okporoko for okporoko and money for money.”

He went ahead to flood NPP Presidential campaign OFFICE with thousands of bags of rice, salt , bails of stockfish and cartons of soap. That was how Nzeribe came to be regarded as the first politician to introduce money politics in Nigeria.

4. When the NPN introduced the use of aircrafts for late Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s presidential campaign, Nzeribe placed his personal aircraft at Zik’s disposal throughout the campaign period.
5. During the 3rd Republic politics, there were only two parties, NRC and SDP. NZERIBE joined the SDP and fought tooth and nail to become the presidential candidate of the party until the military government banned him and other politicians from contesting.
6. After the ban, late Chief MKO Abiola later became the presidential candidate of the SDP with Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe as vice in the famous moslem-moslem ticket saga with no concrete provision for Igbos by the party. Nzeribe who saw this as a political insult on Igbos and warned Abiola and the SDP on the political anomaly but his warning was ignored.

Abiola was even rumored to have boasted that after all he won the primary election of SDP without Igbo support, so he can win the presidential election with or without the Igbos. Nzeribe replied him that he would live to regret that statement.

7. Thereafter, Nzeribe formed the famous (infamous) Association for Better Nigeria (ABN). During the presidential campaign, when it became clear that Abiola was clearly leading the NRC candidate, late Alhaji Tofa by a wide margin and it came to a stage, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the FEDECO Chairman was about to declare Abiola winner of the election. Just then, the Babangida military junta gave an order for the discontinuation of the election, citing Nzeribe’s ABN litigation.

That was how Nzeribe crashed Abiola’s presidential bid forever and the beginning of the infamous June 12 political stalemate which later cost him his life.

In as much as I don’t support this move, it is instructive that NADECO which was the arrow head of the June 12 struggle had many prominent Igbos as members such as late Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Hon.Ralph Obioha and many other Igbos.

That was Nzeribe for you and the extent he went to protect and advance Igbo interest, but unknown to many Igbos and only to people that were close to him including me. I have visited him at Abuja for about three times and his Oguta country home once or twice as President of National Council of Igbo Youths then. I was personally present at his funeral service recently .

The point I am making is that there are few true Igbo politicians like Nzeribe. In spite of his maverick and controversial character, he never did anything opposed or detrimental to Igbo interest as distinct from individual Igbo politicians with whom he had serious conflicts of interests like then Senate Presidents Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, and Rt.Hon. Dr.Chuba Okadigbo, but never as far as Igbo corporate interest is at stake.

Arthur Nzeribe’s fell out with Chuba Okadigbo over the infamous Anticipatory Approval and Nzeribe’s anger that no Igbo Senator benefitted from the sharing of the largesse. I don’t know the reason for Nzeribe’s problem with Anyim Pius Anyim.

Arthur Nzeribe could never have accepted or solicited for Fulani turbaning as Orji Uzor Kalu did. Or carry himself to most northern part of the country to show case the Fulani title.

If Nzeribe should desire such a title, it must be in order to get something from the Fulani controlled government, call it hidden agenda.

At a time during the military regime, Arthur Nzeribe wanted something from the Federal government, he maneuvered to become a moslem to enable him warm himself into the heart of ruling Military government.

As part of the game plan, Arthur Nzeribe orchestrated a national media hype on the planned initiation ceremony while elaborate preparations went on for the ceremony.

Unfortunately for Nzeribe, with only a few days to the event, it became obvious that he would not get what wanted from the military government before the initiation.

Two days to the event, after every arrangement had been made for the ceremony, he sent an emissary to the Sultan informing him of an unforeseen emergency overseas business invitation and requested for a deferment of date sine die. He never went for the initiation again till he died.

During the SDP, NRC dispensation when Arthur Nzeribe contested for SDP primaries with Yar’Adua and Olu Falae Abiola, there was nothing Yar’Adua did not promise Arthur Nzeribe for him to step down for him.

But Nzeribe refused, for the reason that Igbos must be represented in the contest. He went ahead to contest till they were banned from contesting.

I t was unlike Orji Uzor Kalu who, after purchasing APC form for 100 million naira later stepped sown for Alhaji Lawan from the North and called a press conference to persuade other Igbo presidential aspirants to step down for Lawan.

For people who don’t know though not confirmed the spate of banning and unbanning of politicians under fmr President Ibrahim Babangida regime was in a bid to preempt Arthur Nzeribe’s presidential candidacy.

Yet, in the long run, Arthur Nzeribe was able to maneuver his way into the center of the Babangida military regime to the extent of using ABN to truncate the 1993 presidential results.

Of course, it is not every association that will go to court and the government will comply, a military government for that matter.

All I know is that Nzeribe’s political life has been based on his brain to make sure that Igbos are not sidelined in national political leadership, no matter their level of participation. A man who uses his brain to bring powers that be against Igbo interest to their knees.

But we all remember OrJi Kalu’s popular meme that it was better for him as Igbo to be a sweeper at Aso Rock since he lives near Aso Rock, whatever that means. A sweeper only comes to sweep in the morning and leaves until the next day, thereby knowing nothing of what happens in the seat of power.

It is obvious that Orji Uzor Kalu’s mindset is in contra distinction to Nzeribe’s slogan that it was better for him as Igbo man to be a shoe shiner at Aso Rock because the services of a shoe shiner requires him to stay around all through the day and know WHAT transpires at Aso Rock.

Nzeribe also says it is better for him as Igbo man to be a dog and bark in Aso Rock rather than stay outside. As a dog, his voice will always be heard as often as the need arises.

If Arthur Nzeribe were alive today, there is no way he could stoop so low like Orji Uzor Kalus to become campaign manager for a Fulani.

That was the reason renowned Afenifere leader, Chief Adebanjo, one of the dogged advocates of Igbo presidency, described Orji Kalu as the greatest Igbo saboteur. After this public indictment of Orji Kalu, Chief Adebanjo did not utter a word again in support of Igbo presidency.

I believe it is the same reason other supporters of Igbo presidency outside Igbos withdrew their public support.

If Orji Kalu wants to know the strategies of Igbo political defense, he should find and read one of Nzeribe’s political treatise on the subject.

But before then, Orji Uzor Kalu needs to review and retrace his approach to Igbo politics.

Mazi Omife I.Omife
Mbuze Mbaukwu