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 honor
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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