Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, publisher of the Sun Newspapers, was in Conakry, capital of Republic of Guinea to meet with President Alpha Conde at the Presidential Palace on December 4, 2012. While on the visit, he granted newsmen an interview. Excerpts…
Can you please, give us an insight into your long hours of discussion with President Alpha Conde of Guinea?
I am here with my team on business mission. I am sure you are aware that I am a big player in the banking and insurance sectors of the Guinean economy, having established First International Bank and International Insurance company 12 years ago in Guinea. We held discussions on our new investment in the hospitality industry, which is the setting up of a five star hotel in Conakry. We have received funding from international banks and are concluding arrangements on the land acquisition. It is a very big project and that is why I am here with my technical and financial partners to brief and seek the support of the President and Guineans on this project. We also informed the President on the status of tomato puree factory we just acquired in Guinea as well.
With bulk investments in Guinea, will it be fair to address you as a Nigerian or Guinean businessman?
I am an African businessman with investments in many parts of Africa. Our bank and insurance companies identified earlier are in Guinea, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo. So, you are free to call me an African businessman. Or is Guinea not part of Africa?
We heard from unconfirmed sources that you intend to contest Nigeria’s presidency in 2015. How true is this?
No, no, and capital No. I am not playing partisan politics and thus do not have presidential ambition for now. I do not belong to any political party. Name it: PDP, PPA, APGA, UPP or what have you. My focus is on the unity of Ndigbo, which we are championing through a non-partisan political movement christened Njiko Igbo. It is a platform for the repositioning of Ndigbo, most especially on a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2015, having been marginalized over the years. All we are doing is to collectively mend fences and drive the process of repositioning the South East region and working with other regions towards the corporate Nigeria project.
How do you assess President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration?
President Jonathan has promised to surprise Nigerians with dividends of democracy by next year. So, please let us give him the benefit of time as promised.
But as a Nigerian, you have the right to discuss your President.
He is our President and I know we, as citizens of Nigeria, have the right to freedom of expression. I will not like to discuss him here at the Presidential Palace of his friend and colleague. I have said it overtime, that I will not discuss President Jonathan till next year. At the appropriate time, I will personally write him on the state of affairs in Nigeria.
Do you think President Jonathan is happy with Njiko Igbo?
Well, President Jonathan is not an Igbo man. I believe he should be happy with any move aimed at unity. He is the president of all the regions, including the South East, so he should support all legitimate associations or groups. Njiko Igbo has been working hard to reposition Ndigbo with the support of all Igbo sons and daughters at home and in the Diaspora and other Igbo unions and associations toward the actualization of a Nigerian president of South East extraction in 2015.
Don’t you think President Jonathan would see Njiko Igbo as an opposing platform for his re-election in 2015?
Did President Jonathan tell you he would seek re-election in 2015? The President has not declared his intention either privately or publicly. When we get to that river, we shall cross it.
It is all over the news that you offered to dialogue with Boko Haram on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. What inspired you on such offer?
Yes, I offered to dialogue with Boko Haram when General Muhammadu Buhari rejected the offer as demanded by Boko Haram. I agree with General Buhari for refusing, because he was a co-contender with President Jonathan in the 2011 election and his stand might be misinterpreted. I schooled at the University of Maiduguri, I have properties in the North, I hold many chieftaincy titles in the North and I have friends, allies and associates from the North. I believe with all these, I am well-positioned to carry out this assignment.
Have you considered the risk involved?
Yes, I am aware.
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orji uzor go and mind your business stop all this trash
O di mma! ihe obuna i ga-eme ka ndi Ugwu kwere na gi ma-obu dabara Ndigbo na-onya n’afo puku abuo na iri na ise nke n’abia, biko mee ya. MANA I GA-EJI UCHE GI.
Ndigbo, unu o hukwara otu ndi ugwu (ma ndi ori na ndi ama ha) ji agbakota onu wee na-ekwu ekwu na-otu obi. Ndi a n’achi anyi n’ala Igbo, ndi chigoro achi na mbu, ndi nnochi-anya na ndi ozo nke ka choro ichi, Kedu ubochi unu g’agbakota onu nwee ezigbo nzuko gbasara o ganiru Ndigbo? O nwere ndi aka oru ha bu icho ebe (ma ndi) ha ga akojo na-ebea. Unu akojozina ndi Ugwu nihi na ha ka anyi mara ihe nke ukwuu. Anyi bu ndi igbo amaghi ihe, gini mere Ndigbo achoghi igbakota onu nke ha? Ndi a bu ndi iro anyi ka anyi mara otu anyi di. Ihe Maazi T.Orji no na-eme bu ibuso Maazi OUK agha, OUK bu so onye Igbo mu onwe m huru bu onye n’agba nbo otu a ga-esi jikoo Ndigbo onu. Ndi ufodi na-ede ma ndi n’akpo m akpo n’asi na Maazi OUK bu onye ori, onye ajo mmadu, onye nke a na-onye nke ozo. Ajuju m nwere ebe a bu, biko o nwere onye ori kariri Obasanjo, Atiku, Buhari, Tinubu, nke ka nke GEJ bu onye isi ala a? O buru na ndi ori a nile achiala Naijiria wee zaa aha ndi mkpukpu nke ha, gini mere na-onye ori si mkpukpu (akuku) nke anyi a gaghi achi Naijiria? Ndi Govano nile n’achi Anyi, biko unu mepe anya unu, onwere ihe onye Igbo ibe gi mere gi, biko gbahara ya, k’anyi gbakoo onu nwere otu obi, otu atumatu ma hukwa onwe anyi n’anya. T.Orji Biko Gbahara OUK. OUK biko gbahakwara nwanne gi bu T.Orji.
Maazi Okorocha, Nwoke ojii di ocha! Biko gbahara Maazi Ohakim. Maazi Ohakim, e jim Chineke yoo gi, biko Gbahakwara Nwanne gi bu Okorocha.
Maazi Peter Obi, Nwoke Oma n’achi Anambra, Biko unu hapu nkpari a unu na-enye Ndigbo site na nsogbu unu nwere na APGA, unu yoo onwe unu ngbahara ka-obi unu (na nke Ndigbo nile) buru otu.
Maazi Chime, kedu ka Enugu di? Chukwu gozie gi o. Biko nye aka chikota ndi nke gi maka Ndigbo nwere ka ha ji noro ugbua.
Maazi Elechi, okongwu! kedu ebe i gara, okenye na-emebi Ebonyi Steeti. Biko e jim Chukwu a yo gi ka-ichegharia bido mewa ihe ka onye Okenye. O dighi mma mmadu ibu okenye aruruala. Nyere onwe gi aka nyere ndi ozo. Kwee ka okenye gi bara Ndigbo uru. Ndigbo choro otu a ga-esi nwe ngbanwe n’ala Igbo.
Biko onye m kwujoro na-ebe a ya nwee ngbahara ma chetakwa na obi adighi anyi bu Umu Ikoroabia mma ugbua. Umu ikorobia Igbo ndi bi na-ulo, ndi bi na Naijiria, na ndi bi na mba ofesi na-ewezi iwe. Nwuta di ha na-obi, obi adighi ha mma ma oli. Ha siri na-oge erugo mgbe ha g’ebido ma-oburu na unu achighi i jikota onwe unu onu mewara Ndigbo ihe ha choro. Ori uka ka m na-ezunyere unu. Nti n’anu ihe a ha gi ka nkata ezi! Ka Chukwu nonyere Ndigbo nile n’aha Jisos Amen.
I ga-enweta m na: okirikiri asato okirikiri ato itolu ano okirikiri asato otu itolu abuo.
Carry go OUK, my man
Dis native doctor kalu again…Shameless ibo man
Orji, you are only fooling yourself after your monumental failure as a two-term governor of abia state.
How can Abia State progress when they blocked the road to progress with the a wet Iroko(OUK) tree only to remove it after 8 years & place it with another wet & decayed Iroko tree(TA)…….
Orjikalu is a shamless man. After 8 yrs wit Abia state,nothing to show & he did nt end at dat, he instored another nerver do well candidate that he planed to be paying him 75%, at the expense of abia revenew & not knowing to him dat one day ‘HE, been the hunter, will be huntered by the present gov. of Abia state. Lets give him an applause, peace maker. God wil punish u all.
Orji cary go I dey ur bak. U people should stop insulting a man sent by God to rescue ibo’s is he the one that asked the press to ask him questions ?
Ouk, the shinning light, please never mind discouraged and frustrated detractors. Ouk, please bring home some of your investment, and provide jobs for our youths.
I believe those abusing this patriot are just naive and uninformed .I repeat ouk is the only selfless and courageous politician in Igbo land.Ouk risked all his investments and fought objs indiscretion as president,Remain focused,I advise if Jonathan indicates interest in 2015′lets support him instead of the buharis of this world taking power.Then I believe he will support an Igbo in 2019.
oji is the man
Boko harams orji kalu has offer himself as mediators,when and were its the meeting going 2 take place,nigerians are waiting to hear the next line of action ,
Kalu u are a disappointment to Igbos,and useless to your generation.You used Anabra state,tax payers money to built the biggest musque in the state.How many northern’s governors built church in the north?Since independence Igbos have been the receiving of all kinds of killings,till date they are still killing them in the north,non of the northern governors including ex-governors show interest in b/h because they are all members.Head of b/h Buhari said he made the country ungovernable.if kalu is talking of dialoque because of election,u are only dreaming.Pls go back to bed again and sleep more.You are an infidels to the north,419 and ex-convict to Nigeria at large.
Osayomon,North is a complex zone.Not all Northerners abhor Boko Haram killings after all there are many states with maginable or significant indegenous christian population.You can find hausa or Fulani christian in kano or Kanuri christian in Borno
Buhari is loved in the North because he was not corrupt when he was in government.He remain the only figure who is clean.l assure you give Buhari laedership today the first person he will arrest is IBB(muslim).
We need to clean the dirt and rot in our country.We should think of good leaders even if we can smuggle a person from elsewhere not about separation.
OUK (Onye Isi) keep doing what you are doing but you cannot lead the Igbos. Peoples eyes are wide open no more honny for the bee to suck. Your past is not very good.
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Plss if yur not an igbo person don’t post any more comment on this page , then for umunem di iberibe, can’t u ever in this life forgive ouk ??? Aby u don’t follow Arewa and Northern politics, though I no that if TA had performed well ouk crucifiction couldn’t have been this high,(tinubu dint do much like fashola) but all the same no P. Biko unu kwa ire unu nko ka anyi mara ma igbo oga adi notu ofu ubochi.
@ john nwa okposi , yur indeed an elder and izigbo nwa affor igbo rijuru afor, onwugi dea jia aguru na ekwu okwu. Dekwoo ozo anyi nile choro inu yur words of wisdom .
Aname eji this mode agwa nde okeye dika, ike nwach, ojo , iwuanya , chuku meri ,ken nam, ezeif ,ebitu, eze author n, anyim ,BB apu ,alien ,nd kanu, chekwa okor na vict ume, kahaa biako onu B4 lawacha ,wee hashieria igbos political platform for a greater future so that igbo youths can see what to emulate, cos for now nothing is worthy of emulation other than ojo maduek constant reapointment by every govt, sorry youths makaa ewepu Nnanyi Odumegwu OJukwu owegi onyem huru , Asikwam ma kara woo
Ema eke you spoke well,Igbos wat is wrong with you people?joining other ethnic group to criticised your own brother.How many times in this forum have you Igbos sees Yorubas criticise a Yoruba man especially their god Awolowo even wen they know he did wrong against Biafra and coused genocide again Biafra Chidren still Yoruba rallied at his back and wat about that crimina and Alaye man called Tinubu that enmass the wealth of Igbos in Lagos is he better that than Orji Uzor Kalu but still Yorubas are ready to deffend him anyday anytime.Umunnem ndid ka anyi mara ka anyi si emechu onwe anyi niru ndi mba ozo,karisia ndi Yoruba,maka na anyi jiri aka anyi yipu onwe anyi akwa di anyi nalu ndi mba ozo enyere anyi aka yipuzie anyi nke foro mgbe ahu anyi ahuzie nke bu oto.Igbos how many times things will happen to us we learn from it?but i sincere believe not so many people in this forum that bears Igbo name were Igbos,they were just an impostors using Igbo name to couse trouble.Umunnem ndigbo anyi ga adi ooo
I want to commend maazị, John Nwa Okposi for always writing his coment in Igbo Language,I also want to commend some other people for encouraging and supporting Dr, Ọji Ụzọ Kalụ for the good and bold steps he is taking towards the reunification of Ndigbo in the Nigerian political landscape.
But I want to appeal to some other people who are condemning OUK out of sentiment and hatred to withdraw from such negative act,people like COSH,Chibundam,Aboki and Osayomon.
In the case of Osayomon,he doesn’t know that Orji Uzor Kalu didn’t govern Anambra as he Osayamon alleged in his comment,the fomer governor of his state of Edo Lucky Igbinedion didn’t achieve anything as a two time governor,but Osayomon didn’t mention that,it is nothing but a tribal discrimination in the part of Osayomon.As a governor Kalu did wonderfully well in Abia State despite the humiliations he passed throgh under the then president Olusegun Obasanjo led Federal Gogernment.Today Kalu is more acceptable to a meaningful number of Igbo sons and daughters than a good number of people who parade themselves as Igbo leaders while they are nothing but wolves in sheep clothing,I don’t want to mention names here.Also,there were people whom Obasanjo used to make the administration of kalu ungovernable,people like Ojo Mmaduekwe,Vincent Ogbulafor,Onyema Ugochukwu,Enyinnaya Abaribe and so on,please where are these men today,why are they partnering with T.A. Orji to loot the state?.
I love OUK 4 his courageous spirit amidst stiff opsition esp.his stance against evil 3rd term agenda.But i want him not 2 undertak any deal wit dreaded BH.
Where did he acquire such wealth? Stolen wealth from Abia treasury. Thief OUK
Follow ndi-igbo, lets all learn to invest in the south-east. Investing in our home soil, will go a long way in reducing crimes and ameliorating the suffering of our peoples.
@ igba P. If yur from abia state, I for agree with u that he stole from abia treasury like u said because no man born of a woman will go there and not work and steal including yur dad,I remember ouk first tenure was dubai roads second tenure patching of roads cos I stayed at fauls road but now we only beg for broken stone to be poured so we can drive pass ,igba Also before ouk entered that seat yur dady used to read SUN newpaper and banked with Hallmark Bank, and yur Daddy know that ouk was IBB boy and was aloted an oil block by jubril Aminu, yur daddy also knew ouk was a House of Rep member during the military regime and told his constituency that they should use his salary for helping the needy, go confirm from yur dad cos u were still young then. Thank u.
Igba P, when OUK gave PDP $1 Million in 1998/99 was he then the Gov of Abia State? Certainly not. When he also gave a lot of money to clean OBJ when came out of the prison, was he also the Governor of Abia State? I think people like you hate the gut of this young man, but the more you hate him, the more he prospers. His Slok Airlines which was stopped by your brother OBJ in Nigeria. Other Countries including Gambia are today benefiting from our failure. When are we going to learn and see that OUK is destined for greatness which no one can stop except God Almighty. Ride on, brother.
Gov orji should do whatever his heart tells him.