Some concerned people from the South-East have called on a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, to stop parading himself as a leader of the Ndigbo.
They said the former governor must first clear himself in the N7.6bn trial the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission instituted against him.
They made their positions known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Uche Nnadi, on behalf of other South-East stakeholders, said it was wrong for Kalu to leave his trial and be using President Muhammadu Buhari’s name for political gains.
“We know our leaders, and we would not allow anybody to drag the Igbo nation in the mud.
“It was even a mockery of our moral standard for the ruling All Progressives Congress to have fielded the former governor in the last National Assembly election in the face of his trial,” he said.
Nnadi noted that Kalu’s victory in the Abia North senatorial election was being challenged at the tribunal and expressed the hope that justice would prevail at the end of the day.
He said the judiciary, as the last hope of the common man, would recover the mandate.
He argued that “the sudden suspension of the trial of Chief Kalu may have further put to ridicule the anti-corruption agenda of President Buhari.
“Today, the former governor is busy telling everyone that cares to listen that he is closer to the President than any other Igbo and that he has the mandate of the APC to deliver the South-East to President Buhari in the last election.
“We know our leaders, and we take exception to Chief Kalu’s claim that he represents or speaks for the Igbo under any guise.”
Also, Chief Ogbuagu Amadi said there should be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.
Amadi expressed surprise that somebody who was undergoing trial could be cleared and fielded by the APC to contest an election.
PUNCH
