Emulate Mandela, imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, justice and fair play — Kalu tells African Leaders

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged African leaders to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, justice and fair play which the late South African former President, Nelson Mandela was known for.

The former Governor of Abia State made the call on Thursday while delivering a lecture during the 10th Nelson Mandela International Day celebration, which held at the University of Abuja.

Eulogising the late African leader, Kalu said Mandela was an outstanding champion of human freedom and liberty, an anti-apartheid crusader who sacrificed the best years of his life to secure the emancipation of his people from the degradation and humiliation of inferiority status imposed on them by a wicked, hateful, abominable and lawless regime.

He said Mandela was not just a revolutionary leader, adding that his record of philanthropic commitment to not only South Africans, but to citizens of many other nations around the world was quite exceptional.

“He taught the world the meaning and essence of humility, forgiveness, acceptance, perseverance and tolerance not through precepts, but through an incredible force of personal example that probably has no parallel in human history.

“As a prisoner at Rhodes Island, Mandela brought to bear on his terrible and negative experience, exemplary and positive qualities of discipline, endurance, patience, hope, fortitude and remarkable stoicism.

“The Nobel Prize winner who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa at the age of 77, retired after only a single tenure in office in 1999, setting a challenging example to other depraved African leaders who turned their offices into imperial bastions of maladministration, oppression of their own people and corruption.

“Madiba’s quest for comprehensive emancipation that encompassed political, mental, economic and physical dimensions led him to embark on charitable engagements, raising stupendous sums of money for schools, hospitals, sporting activities for the benefit of the desperately deprived black communities of South Africa.

“His hunger for the freedom of South Africa, somehow, became the hunger for the freedom of all, irrespective of their tribe, colour and religion. He took on a campaign that set the leadership bar for African leaders and Africa’s leadership.

“I am a beneficiary of Mandela’s mentorship. I would say that God specially created the great man to tutor and shape me into responsible, industrious and disciplined man with a commitment to the welfare of my people and to humanity in general,” Kalu said.

Kalu revealed that as a politician and businessman, he met Mandela on several occasions, confessing that he inspired him a lot. 

“He introduced me to the leaders of the great African National Congress (ANC), with whom I have maintained a very robust relationship. Through him, I met with President Thabo Mbeki, who is now a dear friend and a brother. I also met President Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe, former National Secretary of ANC who held sway for six months following the decision of the ruling party to ask President Mbeki to step aside. 

“Of course, I met President Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa who is now tasked with the responsibility of leading the great vision that Mandela had for South Africa. Nothing can demonstrate the level of intimacy I enjoy with Mandela’s family than the warm treatment I get from the matriarch of the house, Gracia, each time I visited. She always ensured that I lacked nothing and that I felt at home. 

“The bridge Madiba built that connected me with South African political gladiators is still sustained till date. I am still a strong member of the ANC family, just as I am still an ally of former and incumbent President of the country. Only few months ago, I undertook a trip to South Africa and visited the three ex- Presidents. I particularly spent a quality time with my friend, President Mbeki who was then giving cold hands to political activities in his party, ANC. I reminded him of the political philosophy of Madiba. And that did a lot of magic. That sentiments I expressed steered him out of his earlier disposition. He saw the need to join forces with ANC for the campaign. Of course, that decision played a big part in ANC triumphing at the poll,” Kalu stated.

The Forbes-rated billionaire said the lesson he learnt from Mandela has helped him a great deal in his present sojourn in the Senate, particularly on the supremacy of the party.

“I make bold to say that I learnt at Mandela’s feet. During one of our meetings, he told me that he wanted Cyril to be his deputy, but the party leadership thought otherwise. One thing he told me that he did was that he respected the decision of the party because party is supreme. I imbibed that education and have lived by it in my political pursuits in Nigeria. 

“It may be recalled that recently I made an attempt to contest to become the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate. I however withdrew from that contest as soon as the party’s decision was conveyed to me. I stood down because having learnt from Mandela the dictates of party supremacy, it would amount to a betrayal of my learning to go against what the party’s consensus.

“I also believe that as an evolving democracy, one with a history of military adventurism with the attendant destruction of political ethos and institutions, Nigeria will fare better if politicians, irrespective of their party affiliations, respect party supremacy. That way, we will be able to build a political culture that derives its powers from the party manifesto and programmes,” Kalu added. 

The All Progressives Congress lawmaker said as the National Assembly begin to implement the Nigerian mandate, himself, his family and his constituents will be guided by those eternal principles that Mandela lived by and ultimately bequeathed on humanity. 

“I make a pledge to work for the peace and progress of Nigeria. I pledge to work for the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians irrespective of their tongue and colour. I make a pledge to work for the common good and greater unity of our country. After all, those are the tenets Mandela lived and died for. And they are the core values he taught everybody that had the fortune to encounter him,” Kalu declared.

http://igberetvnews.com/831195/emulate-mandela-imbibe-spirit-forgiveness-justice-fair-play-kalu-tells-african-leaders/

I wish Nigerian politicians will immitate Mandela's example...

johndik:
I wish Nigerian politicians will imitate Mandela's example...

Mandela was terrorist,
People are overrating him.

Orji Uzor Kalu, why don't you start emulating Nelson Mandela by first confessing yours sins and telling us how much money you have stolen so far so that they will lock you up in jail? If you can do that other African leaders will follow suit. Na only talk huna sabi. Mumu man

The way this crook got his voice back amazes me...this is a man that ran Abia to ground zero, on joing APC suddenly turned to motivational speaker.

Emulate mandela? I hope they really know who mandela was in his days? Easy to say emulate why cant you people live a life that will make others emulate?


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Which mod dey morning duty sef

Are you emulating him too? Lead by example.

grayht:
Which mod dey morning duty sef

Lol. Nairaland stepping up. Good new topics hit frontpage at hours like this..

Why didn't you emulate him. I served in Abia and could not understand why he was hyped back then.

Thief Thief Government.

See who dey talk about Mandela!
Nigerian politicians are all thieves..ALL OF THEM!
short and tall, young and old, weda na igbo,hausa or yoruba!!
All of them THIEVES!!
One day God will bless us,we v suffered and still suffering but oneday blessings will visit our homes.

The Nigerian people are to blame, for a man like this to open his mouth and utter such advice as using Mandela as an example.

Good one......

Are u okay Mister Orji

Even this one is saying emulate Mandela?

Wonders shall never end..
Our politicians knows good thing but can never do it.

Nigeria only gets advice from criminals. This imp forget mandela ruled for one tenure. This bastard has been swindling Nigeria since I was a toddler.

johndik:
I wish Nigerian politicians will immitate Mandela's example...

Why is the rogue talking not starting with himself to emulate Mandela
Or was Mandela a bail-jumping thief like Kalu ni?

eyeview:
In what appears a brazen mockery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption to date, a former governor accused of absconding amidst his ongoing fraud trial has been seen attending a rally of Nigeria’s ruling party.

Orji Kalu joined other politicians of the All Progressives Congress in Umuahia to stomp for the party’s candidates ahead of the general elections next month.

The appearance comes amidst pronouncements by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the former governor was wanted after departing Nigeria for Germany on purported health grounds in November 2018.

The N7.7 billion trial had remained stalled ever since, although the court fixed further hearing for later this month.

Mr Kalu left office as governor of Abia State in Nigeria’s South-east in May 2007, and has faced allegations he squandered state resources during his reign.

After several judicial manoeuvres which critics said were designed to frustrate his prosecution, the EFCC ultimately reactivated Mr Kalu’s case last year, filling amended graft charges of up to N7.7 billion against him.

At the resumed hearing at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on November 5, 2018, the EFCC expressed shock that Mr Kalu had departed the country despite seizing his travel documents.

The former governor’s lawyers said he travelled to recuperate in Germany following a surgical operation.

The judge scolded Mr Kalu for departing the country without due notice to the court, and gave him seven days to return to the country for his trial.

Although the matter was subsequently adjourned till November 12, 2018, Mr Kalu failed to show up. He has been reportedly sighted at different parts of the country by those who know him.

Last week, the Buhari campaign announced Mr Kalu as a key member of the president’s reelection committee.

The announcement drew nationwide outrage, even though the politician was not sighted in public.

But at the rally in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, today, Mr Kalu was shown on NTA wearing white clothes with an APC campaign lapel Friday afternoon.

It was not immediately clear why Mr Kalu seamlessly roamed about in the country without being apprehended by law enforcement authorities.

A spokesperson for the EFCC told PREMIUM TIMES the agency was not aware that Mr Kalu was in the country, much less attending a public event.

A spokesperson for Mr Kalu did not return requests for comments Friday evening.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/305289-wanted-orji-kalu-seen-at-apc-rally-in-umuahia.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkU_VzlfO14&feature=youtu.be

Karemarealty288:
The way this crook got his voice back amazes me...this is a man that ran Abia to ground zero, on joing APC suddenly turned to motivational speaker.

Don't be amazed no more.
He brokered the arrangement Buhari has with Kanu of IPOB.
Look closely and watch the trend since his visit to him in Kuje prison.

PrettyCrystal:
Dec 16, 2016

Former governor of Abia state; Orji Uzor Kalu -toady paid a visit to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB); Nnamdi Kanu in Kuje Prison, Abuja. The duo engaged in a very long encouraging discussion. According to the ex governor, Nnamdi Kanu is his brother and shouldn't be where he is because Kuje Prison is not his home.

Source; http://www.nationalhelm.net/2016/12/orji-uzor-kalu-visits-nnamdi-kanu-in.html


www.nairaland.com/attachments/4617731_coku2_jpgfa4c85b41c4a62b837b0911bf498a76c

Oleee

SeunOluwafemi:
Oct 06, 2017

Mr. Vincent Egechukwu Obetta, Senior Special Assistant (Inter-governmental Affairs, Compliance and Electoral Process) to the governor of Enugu State, has stated that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) played into the hands of the Federal Government by its hate-filled agitation. Mr. Obetta, a former counsel to Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, stated this in an interview. He noted that between September 12 and 17, violent clashes between IPOB members and Nigerian Army troops on Operation Python Dance II resulted in the death of some people, subsequent proscription of IPOB activities by South-East governors and the designation of IPOB as a terrorist organization.

http://saharareporters.com/2017/10/06/nnamdi-kanu%E2%80%99s-former-lawyer-says-ipob-played-nigeria-govt-hands-lauds-seast-governors

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2281191_politricks_jpeg1e074f9e4eb2ed17a7bc4617eb7731cb

The Enugu governor’s aide also spoke on the efforts of Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, to intervene in the dispute between IPOB and the Federal Government. According to him, he had expressed the view that the agitation was spinning out of control and felt there was a need to get influential Igbo leaders to intervene. To this end, Obetta said he arranged for Mr. Kalu to visit the IPOB leader in Kuje prison. Prior to the visit, he added, he had contacted some prominent Igbo leaders to visit him, but they declined.

“When I contacted Mr. Kalu, he accepted, not just to pay him a visit but to also intervene in calling for a dialogue. We had a meeting with some top relevant security agencies, who granted the permission for Mr. Orji Kalu to see Mr. Kanu. But to my greatest shock, I read in an online blog, a week later, that President Mohammadu Buhari sent Mr. Kalu to beg Kanu to stop his agitation for a price. It was so shocking and heartrending. As far as I know, Mr. Kalu’s intervention was to halt the hardship the agitation may foist on his kinsmen living in the North,” said the governor’s aide.

He wondered why pro-Biafra elements, on account of Mr. Kalu’s decision to intervene, decided to insult the former governor simply because he holds a contrary opinion. Mr. Obetta contended it is contradictory to assert one’s right to self-determination, yet deny others their right to hold contrary views on the same subject.

“Revolutionaries like Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Che Guevara of Cuba, Mao Tse Tung of China and the current agitators for the self-determination in Spain restricted their campaigns and advocacy on government issues and policies as well as accommodated contrary view. The struggle for self-determination by IPOB, like the Palestinian struggle, is an impersonal race,” he stated.

He noted that he and other figures like former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, all South-East governors, President of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, – Chief Nnia Nwodo; Mr. Debe Ojukwu, son of Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu; Chief Joe Igbokwe, Chief Chekwas Okorie and Chief Dozie Ikedife have been insulted and described as bastards and Hausa slaves.

Mr. Obetta advised that the current adversarial narrative must change.

Because of some morsel from APC, he betrayed his people.


Please when is Yoruba selling FFK to us? We will dash them Orji Uzo Kalu and Joe Igbokwe? They don't need to pay

Really? From the biggest scam coming from the SE?

chelsea1116:
See who dey talk about Mandela!
Nigerian politicians are all thieves..ALL OF THEM!
short and tall, young and old, weda na igbo,hausa or yoruba!!
All of them THIEVES!!
One day God will bless us,we v suffered and still suffering but oneday blessings will visit our homes.

Indirectly advising the youth not get involved into politics. Pls make some exemption no matter how less they are. Some politicians are of good intend

This rubbish written for Orji Kalu to read out is just an embarrassment to Mandela. How can Betrayer like Kalu start talking about Mandela. I guess Mandela spirit will refute these scraps from the Spirit world.
Well, shame on the Nigerian nation that people like Orji Kalu are now the ones championing the reorientation we need.

This idiot that robbed abia of her common wealth and handed over to his fellow robber.

Chaii. Mandela don suffer. Someone like Kalu advises others to emulate Mandela. Is Kalu not aware that he is supposed to be the Mandela of his local Community?
Having ruled his state as a governor what is doing in the Senate?
Mandela was no power hungry. He ruled once and never contested again.
Kalu emulating Mandela begins with you .

U mean they shuld all go to prison? so what r u saying kalu?