The 1st of April is regarded in some parts of the world as “April Fool’s Day” dedicated to playing pranks, jokes and spreading hoax. However, in Southwestern Nigeria the reverse was the case for Billionaire Business mogul and two time Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as it was neither a joke nor a hoax to him as he stormed the popular commercial city of Lagos in commencement of his “Southwest Peace Advocacy Tour”. 
By Kenneth Udeh
The 1st of April is regarded in some parts of the world as “April Fool’s Day” dedicated to playing pranks, jokes and spreading hoax. However, in Southwestern Nigeria the reverse was the case for Billionaire Business mogul and two time Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as it was neither a joke nor a hoax to him as he stormed the popular commercial city of Lagos in commencement of his “Southwest Peace Advocacy Tour”.
One might be tempted to ask the question on the need for a peace Tour in the Southwest since there has not been any major occurrence of killings or terrorist attacks as experienced in other parts of the country particularly the “Northern part”.
If we are to be honest with ourselves one of the major causes of not just violence but other criminal acts is lack of precautionary measures. Violence itself exists in many forms it begins with the mind orientation before it gradually snowballs into the physical. Occasioned by the various forms of “hate speeches” being spread in the media and “tribal sentimental speeches” by some former leaders which were capable of throwing the entire nation into “war, anarchy and chaos” Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu in his wisdom and proactive nature thought it wise to embark on the “Southwest Peace tour” aimed at dispelling the violent and misleading messages thus promoting the unity and peace being experienced in the Southwest.
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu in this context needs no introduction being a National Icon who originates from Abia State the Southeastern region of the country. The two time Governor of Abia state also doubles as the Chairman of SLOK holdings a multi – billion business conglomerate. He is no doubt a renowned business man and a distinguished political leader in the Southeast and Nigeria at large.
The “Southwest tour” which was highly publicized in various sections of the media will undoubtedly foster unity amongst the two regions and indeed the country as a whole. The visit will no doubt solidify, build and repair bridges among ethnic divides in the country.
As earlier mentioned the tour kicked off on a sound note in the commercial hub of Lagos city with Dr. Kalu’s visit to the “Oba of Lagos” His Royal Highness OBA RILWAN AKIOLU where he was warmly received by the renowned traditional ruler.
The visit marked the official commencement of the Peace Tour which Dr. Orji Kalu the PAN Nigerian peace Ambassador and his team which comprised of other distinguished personalities drawn from the various tribes and religious affiliations in the country took the peace message to the palace of Alake and paramount ruler of EBGALAND Oba ADEDOTUN AREMU GBADEBO who was excited to have the two time Governor as his guest. The academic aspect of the tour came into light with a visit to the University of Ibadan where Dr. kalu and his peace team were received by the Vice-Chancellor of the university Professor IDOWU OLAYINKA still in Oyo state the palace of the OLUBADAN also played host to Dr. Kalu as he was warmly welcomed by his Royal Majesty OBA SALIU AKANMU ADETUNJI (AJE OGUNNISO 1) the Olubadan of Ibadan.
The palace of the Alaafin of Oyo was not left out as it was basically where one of the highpoints of the Tour played out when Oba LAMIDI ADEYEMI (III) the ALAAFIN OF OYO the highly respected and influential traditional ruler described Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as one of the very few courageous men who could engage people in authority notably former President Obasanjo.
The political aspect of the tour was in full gear as the executive Governor of the state His Excellency Governor ABIOLA AJUMOBI was delighted in not just having a distinguished personality like Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu OUK as he is fondly called grace his state but also meeting a fellow Peace Advocate who is dedicated to the course of making sure that the country remains united.
Ile-Ife, Osun state also played host to Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu the two most respected traditional and academic institutions in the state gladly received and accepted the peace message of Dr. Kalu. The Ooni of Ife Oba ADEYEYE OGUNWUSI welcomed Dr. kalu to his palace after which he proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife and was warmly received by the Vice-Chancellor of the University Professor EYITOPE OGUNBODEDE.
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu also stormed the ancient town of Ogbomoso and was received by the already elated and expectant traditional ruler of the town OBA JIMOH OLADUNI OYEWUNMI the Soun of Ogbomoso and the message was still the same Peace! Peace!! Peace!!!
Ondo State was also not left out of the “Peace Tour” as Dr. Kalu paid a courtesy call to the palace of Oba ALADELUSI ALADETOYINBO the “DEJI OF AKURE”.
Ekiti state also received the peace message despite the initial resistance put up by the Governor of the state aimed at barring Dr. Orji Kalu from bringing the “peace gospel” to the state. However, in an unexpected turn around, Dr. Kalu was triumphantly welcomed into the state by the people who couldn’t wait to hear from one of Nigeria’s detribalized citizen preach the gospel to them.
The benefits of the “Southwest Tour” embarked upon by Dr. Orji Uzor kalu cannot be over emphasized as it showed that truly Dr. Kalu is a true detribalized Nigerian that is committed to the oneness of the nation. The cultural aspects exhibited at every palace visited showed that the Nigerian culture is rich and indeed should be our unifying factor.
It is pertinent at this point to note that Dr. kalu under the Orji Uzor Kalu foundation instituted the N100 million endowment fund in the Universities visited, instituted a petty traders fund for petty traders in the Southwest states, the fund will see over 2000 petty traders benefit from the non interest free soft loan.
This is a rare gesture to be exhibited by a personality from the Southeast extraction of the country and should be encouraged and emulated by other political, religious and business stakeholders from the various regions of the country.
The Southwest Tour also served as a platform to showcase the good works of the Buhari led administration. I would not need the help of a ministering spirit to proclaim that 2019 Presidential election would be a “do or die,” particularly for those who ferociously want to see President Buhari out of the way to keep up with their free for all fiester of corruption, the disgruntled patriots in reverse order who feel being left out and keep loitering around the corridors of power as if they disremembered a thing in Aso-rock and the gullible “hoi polloi” who are hoodwinked into believing the President is the architect of their economic downturn.
The main stream and social media have been awashed by anti-Buhari’s rhetoric sponsored and peddled by these same “itchy palms” whose job descriptions is nothing than to tarnish the image of the President by thwarting or distorting the truth to nescient Nigerians, and in their widest phantom, they have succeeded in decimating the goodwill of the President and his chances of being re-elected in 2019. However, they were utterly disappointed with the open arms in which the South West which unarguably is the omphalos of political consciousness in Nigeria accepted the acting Chairman Advisory Board for National Movement on Re-election of President Buhari, His Excellency, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and his stentorian message of support for the President re-election.
Although, OUK is no doubt a trail blazer whose resilience and political clout mark him as a reoccurring decimal in the Nigerian project, but the open arms offered by the South West was a visible reflection and audible testament that Mr. President’s goodwill remains intact. This fact was conspicuously seen in Ekiti state as the people trooped out in their numbers to symbolically accept the President’s re-election and his Broom, in spite of Governor Fayose’s disapproval of the President and rejection of the peace advocacy tour.
In an epic response to one of the loiters who probably forgot his Otta farm’s key in Aso-rock and has since taken solace in baseless missive where he advised Nigerians not to re-elect President Buhari and his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2019 presidential poll. OUK urged Nigerians not to listen to the former Nigerian leader because he never listened to advice while he was in power. In his words, “Obasanjo is the most incompetent former president and so has no locus standi to describe any government as being corrupt in the country. Nigerians should tell former President Obasanjo to stop writing frivolous letters. It was sad that some who behaved badly while in government by not listening to advice could talk like this. Let me tell you emphatically that President Buhari will contest again, don’t listen to letter writers like Obasanjo. Obasanjo has been president twice, so he should keep his letter in Otta for himself. If anyone will caution President Buhari, it should not be Obasanjo. If you check your records very well, he remains the most corrupt president ever.”
Continuing he said, “He (Obasanjo) came into office with less than N20,000 and he later built multi billion naira Otta Farm, Library Project and the Hilltop Mansion. That is why somebody like me is in Ekiti to tell our people not to listen to Obasanjo. The economy was in comatose when this government came on board, today President Buhari has raised the foreign reserve from $23 billion to as much as $47 billion while the menace of Boko Haram has been defeated. So, some people are out to destabilize his government. We want Nigerians to embrace love, peace and show understanding.”
One of the major challenges facing Nigeria over the years has been centered on “Leadership”. Our democracy though still at its young age has been very distant from embracing the 21st century governance. However, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu despite leaving public office since 2007 has remained undaunted in playing active roles in the governance of the country by making contributions and relevant criticisms.
In Abia North, one of the major contributions is the current distribution of free interest loans to petty traders in the Senatorial district this is coming just after he distributed vehicles to deserving individuals under the foundations Transport empowerment scheme. Dr. Kalu has also in his capacity as a private business man and political stakeholder also attracted road projects in the senatorial zone just to mention a few. Ordinarily this supposed to be the duty of public office holders in the Senatorial zone and the state Government. But Dr. Kalu has been able to achieve these and more. There won’t be need for any other conviction to realize that Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu will achieve many more feats for the benefit of the people if he is supported and voted with the peoples mandate to represent the good people of Abia North at the Senate come 2019.
As the general election draws near and as many aspirants continue to throw their hats in the ring, including those who are best suited for motivational speaking and the so called opposition party which has rendered an impenitent apology for failure and up till now has never articulated any alternative policy agenda for Nigeria, it is therefore pertinent for the President’s re-election team to understand that lots of things are at stake.
The tourniquet around the bleeding spot of corruption, the steady economic stability and growth, various institutional reforms and the massive construction and development of capital infrastructures across all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria which among them is the over politicized second Niger bridge which currently is 46% near completion and many more are at stake. Hence, the President as a matter of National importance has to be re-elected and for it to be possible, more variants of peace advocacy tour are needed. Mobilizing voters through all means, getting them to register, getting them to align with the Broom and getting them to the poll on Election Day wins the election.
Kenneth Udeh
The Media Assistant to Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu writes from
Abuja with contributions from
Ajah Chidiebere Lawrence
A Corp member and a public affairs analyst
In Kebbi State.
