Nigeria Different From Egypt – Kalu

Former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu Thursday distanced events in Egypt from the Nigerian situation insisting that both countries did not share the same political history.

Kalu said,”we are quite different.Egyptians are used to wars and military rule.Nigerians are not.We only fought a Civil War.For the North Africans,they have seen invasions and battles.From Hyskos,Assyrians,Persians,Greeks, Romans and Byzantines to Arabs.”

He explained that because deposed President Mohammed Morsi withdrew a suit against journalists,like the Nigerian government,and imposed state of Emergency in three cities,before the military struck some Nigerians are drawing comparisms.

“That i can understand.However,from 1952 when the Society of Free Officers toppled King Farouk,all Egyptian leaders until Morsi were of military background.Gen. Mohammed Najuib,Col.Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat were part of the Revolution.Hosni Mubarak,a fighter pilot also headed the Air force.It is not the same in Nigeria,”Kalu pointed out.

“Nigeria,”according to the ex-governor,”had seen 14 years of Civilian government since 1999,and our soldiers do not really have the Mamluk mentality.The Nigerian military also love democracy”.

Kalu added that Egyptians had the capacity to decide their fate without input from Nigerians.