The lawmaker representing Abia North in the senate, Orji Uzor Kalu has averred that the Igbos had no say in the amalgation which gave birth to Nigeria.
The former
Governor of Abia state who disclosed this in his newly released autobiography
‘My Life’, traced the “plight of the Igbos” to the early 19th century when the
British first explored the Lower Niger.
Orji Uzor who
stated that the Igbos did not have a say as to whether they desired to be a
part of such contraption or not, affirmed that they enjoyed a brief sunshine in
Nigeria in the decade before and a few years after independence.
He said in
the book;
“In January
1914, Lord Fredrick Lugard completed the amalgamation of the northern and
southern protectorates into Colonial Nigeria and became its first
Governor-General.
“The Igbos
did not have a say as to whether they desired to be a part of such a contraption
or not. However, the clouds lifted so briefly and the Igbo enjoyed brief
sunshine in Nigeria in the decade before and a few years after independence.
“Having
embraced Christianity and western education with enthusiasm, they quickly rose
to hold sway in the federal civil service, military, academia, commerce and
industry.
“The ‘Jews’
of West Africa were on the march, toiling, sweating and swinging upwards, to
the envy and hatred of their compatriots.”
The Senate
Chief Whip also alleged that he chose to honour the Igbos over money during the
administration of Olusegun Obasanjo, who according to him placed “a great
strain” on the country’s unity with an alleged lack of democratic character.
Orji Uzor
added;
“I am not in
politics because I want to make money from it. If that was the case, I would
have remained with President (Olusegun) Obasanjo throughout our time in office
because he controlled all the money.
“But I needed
honour for my people. He refused to honour and respect my people; he failed to
give them a sense of belonging. He carried on as if he was still at war with
the Igbo nation, hence we disagreed.”
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