Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola has been described as a statesman by former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu for gracing the Chinua Achebe’s colloqium in far away United States. Fashola braved ethnic sentiments to honour the renowned writer whose new book, ‘There was a country’, was greeted with verbal punches by a cross-section of politicians in the South-west, he said.
Kalu remarked:” Contrary to his age, Governor Fashola did what a lot of elders ignored, bringing the Yoruba and Igbo as close as possible. He stole everyone’s heart with this bold move. That is statesmanship. He reminded Achebe of the larger link between the two groups, instead of reducing ties to political accountancy.” The former governor joined Fashola’s fence-mending moves.”Achebe cannot hate the South-west. He was at the University College Ibadan just like his wife.
The Igbo have so much in common with the Yoruba. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Emeka Ojukwu spoke Yoruba more than some Lagosians. Infact, Zik’s children still bear Yoruba middle names. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Col. Patrick Amadi joined the army same day. Obasanjo made sure he married his friend’s sister-in-law, an Amadi too, to keep them together,” Kalu added. Going further, Kalu said: “You cannot overlook the links.Take these gubernatorial examples.
Sir Akanu Ibiam married an Olayinka, General Oluwole Rotimi chose an Igbo wife in 1964 and Chairman at the wedding reception was Emeka Ojukwu. Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s mom is from my state Abia.” Kalu also urged journalists to promote peaceful co-existence.” In Owerri, the street that houses major newspaper houses is named after a Yoruba man, Rotibi. We seem to believe that only Igbo boys could move to the Southwest for post -primary studies in the colonial times.
Far from the truth.Professor Oladeinde Ogunbi was a student of Dennis Memorial Grammar School(DMGS) Onitsha,Joseph Adeigbo, Clerk of the National Assembly in 1964, moved from Government College Umuahia to Christ the King College(CKC) Onitsha. Fashola has only reminded us that we are one,not just because his mother-in-law is from Delta State,but because Chinua Achebe also has Yoruba admirers.”
The achievement of real unity among the Southern Regions will bring an end to perpetuation of Northern oligarchy on Nigerian political scene.
Kudos to Fashola and also Kudos to Orji Kalu too.
This is one good thing I like about OUK; his ability to always say his mind. Meanwhile, I greet Fashola not only for this kind of his bold steps but for his solid development of all sectors (human and structural) of Lagos state; things that there and are being praised by the people of the state and outsiders and not in the case of my own state, Abia, where T.A.Orji and co will spend billions in the media trying to convince those that live outside the state that all is well while there is near collapse of infrastructure and groaning by the people. One day we shall have a Fashola in this God’s own state though for now, in devil’s hands.
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Gov. Fashola and Orji kalu are true nationalists. Please F.G should come to the rescue of Abia state because of the high level of infranstructural and other few basic amenities provided by the past administrations decay. Nothing works in Abia. Abia state govt is not doing any single thing that affects the masses, except in collection of taxes and levies. If you doubt it tour Aba for about a week and find out. Keke Napep that is meant for poverty alleviation, is now being used to elevate and compound the poverty level of the poor majority Abians, as these kekes are currently undergoing 2 time registration in less than a year at an exorbitant fee which the poor operators couldn’t afford. Agbero and other thugs have been deployed to bully anyone that fails to comply. And it was the people that bought these keke Napeps themselves without govts’ support. And there is no single good road in Aba where these three wheelers could have a smooth ride. Consequently, the operators of these kekes visit mechanics daily and may be left with little or nothing after giving the real owners the daily or weekly accounts as most of them are riding it on Hire purchases. We need a governor like Fashola and Akpabio in Abia. Pls God deliver your people.
where is tata let him make his comment on this, people will laugh at him
groups of Nigerian nations will prevail in the country, then the S. W. and the S.E.must bury their hatchets and work closely. The Northern domination in the life of the country is fueled and sustained by the cold war and mutual disdain that exist among the S. E. and S. W.
I am not preaching further division or exlusionsism – far from that. I am preaching the reighn on equality, and respect of every nation and peoples of Nigeria. And there can be no peace and contentment until justice is done.
Both Fashola and Kalu have started the race of unification.
Concerned Nigerian
Concerned Nigerian
Bravo to Gov. B. Fashola for breaking the ice. If respect and inclusion of all groups of Nigerian nations will prevail in the country, then the S. W. and the S.E.must bury their hatchets and work closely. The Northern domination in the life of the country is fueled and sustained by the cold war and mutual disdain that exist among the S. E. and S. W.
I am not preaching further division or exlusionsism – far from that. I am preaching the reign of equality, and respect of every nation and peoples of Nigeria. And there can be no peace and contentment until justice is done.
Both Fashola snd Kalu have strted the race of unification. Bravo.
Concerned Nigerian
OUK u ar 2much you knowlege about nigeria n nigerians is almost like an institution of study good enough for we young people to always listen read n learn from. I personaly admire Fashola 4 d great things i hear of him. God bles ndigbo/yoruba nations n help hausa people to wake up to their responsibility.
Ouk keep strategizing your political ways but always speak for your self and not the entire igbos. WE IGBOS HAVE read the history and HAVE underlined THE VITAL point marks period. NO BODY STEPS ON THE VIPERS TAIL WHITOUT GETTING ITS POISONIOUS VENOM ON HIS VAIN. ANY TRUE IGBO MAN SHOULD BE VERY WARE OF THESE SCUMBAGS YORUBAS!!!
In the case of governor T.A. Orji of Abai state.I want to maintain my word,Abia remains the second richest state in the country after Lagos.Imagine a situation whereby tri-cycle (keke napep) which is about 45,000 in number pay N1,500 to Abia State government each on daily bases,buses that are in the state numbering about 32,000 pay N3,000 and Taxis pay N2,000 on the same order excluding some other buses that run inter-states which also pay unspecified amounts of money with other multiple taxes and levies imposed on the masses and property owners across the state,with over 8 million dwellers.So no state in the country is generating what Abia is generating today.
Still Abia state remains an exception among the rest of the States.Shall we continue like this,the neighbouring states are fast developing their territories,while T.A. Orji kept quiet,siphoned the wealth of the state.Why do we allow a criminal to be ruling us as a governor?.