Obasanjo Should Seek Forgiveness from Nigerians, Says Kalu,

Chief Orji Uzor Kalu

Tasks Nigerians on credible leadership
Ademola Babalola
A former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu,

yesterday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo should rather beg for the forgiveness of all Nigerians and the nation for “all the wrongs he committed against them,” while in office.

Describing Obasanjo as a wicked leader, Kalu said the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan is cerebral when it comes to dealings with the people across political divides.

Kalu announced that he had forgiven the former president for his  past persecution in reciprocation for the recent pronouncement from Obasanjo that he himself had already forgiven those he had grouse with.

Kalu stated this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while delivering a lecture entitled: ‘Nigeria: A Nation in Quest of Credible Leadership’ organised by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in commemoration of the centenary celebration of media practice in the country.

The former governor remarked that even though he lost virtually all he had for maintaining a principled position against the former president’s third term agenda, he is still around and standing tall in the society.

Insisting that President Jonathan is a very liberal man to everybody, and “not a wicked man like the past one,” Kalu highlighted the  qualities of a credible leader to be: “Accountability, transparency, honesty, level-headedness, objectivity and fairness. Any leader who is guided by these characteristics is unlikely to go wrong. All that will be required are firmness, consistency, and uprightness in managing the quality variables."

To achieve these values in political office holders, Kalu tasked journalists to keep a tab on the three arms of government. "In carrying out this function, the media should hold the other estates accountable to the public. For me, this is a major role that should be taken seriously," he said.

On the way out of the country's multi-faceted problems, he insisted that Nigeria must strictly obey the rule of law and also conduct transparent and credible elections.

To this end, he advocated “a strong two-party system democracy for Nigeria,” just as he called for a reform to Nigeria’s electoral process that would give the youths a better chance to lead the nation to a better future.

Specifically, Kalu lamented the spate of recycling of old politicians in the polity and enjoined the opposition movement to be more vibrant so as to evolve credible leadership in the country “otherwise, the ruling party may become complacent and rest on its oars.”

He declared that: “We need to start shopping for a credible leadership in various spheres of our nationhood ahead of the 2015 elections. This is the time to start the search as part of our collective civic duty.
“When we keep quiet, bad men take charge and we would remain despondent and hapless until the next polls in 2019.”

Kalu however alleged that a lot of Nigerians have misconceptions that President Jonathan is not doing very well noting that: “The enormous task of ruling this country is not a child’s play.

“If you ask me, President Jonathan is performing creditably to the best of his capacity. Of course, if it were not so, you know me, I would tell you without fear or favour. I am in a position to know whether he is doing well or not.

“Overall, he deserves commendation for the progress the country is making in the face of daunting challenges from every direction. Governing a complex nation like ours is not a picnic.”

He however stressed the essence of credible leadership as ensuring "a better and secure life, a peaceful environment and prosperous future for the citizenry. We need a credible leadership that will foster the country's unity. Such leadership will connect the people with the resources and harness our potential and ensure the betterment of the Nigerian society."

The former Abia State governor therefore advised journalists against gratifications which he said could diminish their reputation and cast aspersion on their integrity, stressing that they should "retrace their steps and toe the line of professionalism so that credible leadership can well be rooted in our country.

He said Nigeria needs leaders who can live exemplary life, as he described Chief Obafemi Awolowo as "epitome of good leadership, who walked the talk, even though he was not a saint."


Earlier, the state NUJ Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun, said the country had been facing the challenges of leadership since 1960 when Nigeria got her independence.
"From one government to another, it had been coups and counter-coups. The problem persists to the extent that today, virtually all the infrastructural systems have collapsed," he said.