RUGA: South East Leaders Give Uzor-Kalu 48hrs To Apologise To Igbos

Abuja – Following his reported support for the creation of the  controversial

Ruga  for Fulani herders settlement in the South East, South East

leaders yesterday gave the former governor of Abia state Chief Orji

Uzor-Kalu 48 hours ultimatum to tender unreserved apologies to the

Igbos people.

The aggrieved leaders also slammed the former governor over his  claim

that marginalisation of the South East was over   under President

Muhammadu  Buhari.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference in Abuja, Hon.

Uche Okoroafor, said “we have given him 48 hours from now to retract

his remarks and apologise to our people or face the wrath of the

Igbos.”

The leaders claimed that the former governor has become a willing tool

in the hands of “those who are championing the continued

marginalization of the South East.”

They challenged the Igbos to rise up against Chief Kalu and his pay

masters, who the group alleged are desperate to forcefully convert

part of Igbo land for Fulani herders.

Chief Kalu was reported to have justified the Ruga policy of the

federal government describing the widespread controversy over the

policy as “unnecessary.”

Recall that Chief  Kalu had told journalists during an interactive

session in Abuja on Friday how he donated large hectares of land in

the state to Fulani cow dealers while he was in office 1999 _ 2007.

He claimed that he and other Igbos are also involved on “cow business.”

Berating Chief Kalu, the Igbo leaders described his support for the

proposed controversial Ruga policy as unfortunate, and another display

of betrayal, hatred, and insult of the Igbo nation by the former governor.

“How can a self-acclaimed Igbo leader dismiss the brazen

marginalization of the South East as untrue.

“We are not surprised by the many anti-Igbo remarks by the former

governor and we have always seen him as a drowning man who is very

desperate to do anything to free himself from the N 7.6 billion fraud

allegation hanging on his neck.

“His reported support for Ruga against the wish of our people has

further vindicated us in our earlier position that the former governor

was insensitive to the plight of the Igbos and should stop parading

himself as Igbo leader.

“We are aware the former governor is already discussing with his pay

masters on how to convince the South East governors to donate land for

Fulani settlement in the zone.

“He’s doing everything possible to please the powers that be to

intervene in his long-delayed trial over the N7.6billion as well as in

the ongoing hearing on a petition challenging his electoral Victory in

the last National Assembly election.

“We state here that such electoral fraud that brought chief Kalu to

the Senate cannot stand and we believe the judiciary as the last hope

for the common man will help right this brazen injustice,” the group

said.

The leaders also described as an unfortunate claim by the former governor

that the South East states have so far benefitted more from the

present administration than any other past regime.

It was reported that the former governor had said that “President

Muhammadu Buhari in spite of the alleged lopsidedness of appointments being

attached to his government, has done more for the South Eastern

geo-political zone than any other previous governments in terms of

projects execution.  In terms of project execution in the South East

for example, President Muhammadu Buhari led government is doing

far, far better than the previous ones  consciously voted for by the

people of the area.”