NO EQUITY UNTIL NDIGBO GET TO ASO VILLA –KALU

Former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Tuesday tasked all the candidates jostling for the Presidency in 2011 to forget about Igbo support unless they unfold a master plan to fasten the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.

Kalu, who spoke in Abuja, wondered why no person from Igboland had enjoyed the opportunity of living in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, either as President or Vice President since the seat of government officially moved to  the city over two decades ago.

'This sounds unbelievable but it is true,' Kalu said.'No person from the South East geo-political zone has ever lived in Aso Villa either as President or Vice President, since 1990.All the other five zones have had a swell time in there.'The ex-governor reeled out fact and figures to defend his claim, explaining that injustice to one group is injustice to an entire nation.

'Leaders from the South West lived in the villa for 12 years and three months. By this, I mean Chief Olusegun Obasanjo  eight years; Donaldson Oladipupo Diya, four years; Ernest Sodeinde Shonekan, three months. From the North West, we had Gen. Sani Abacha, five years;Umaru Yaradua three years; and Muhammadu Sambo, four months.'The North Central produced Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, three years; and Abdullsalam Abubakar, 10 months. 'From the South South  came Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, three years and four months; Augustus Akubhue Aikhomu, three years; and Mike Okhai Akhigbe, 10 months.

'Alhaji Abubakar Atiku from the North East lived there for eight years.You can see that the South East is missing.And I think this is unfair,' Kalu pointed out.His story of marginalisation did not end there. More lamentations followed from state creation to the amnesty programme for militants.'The South East must get two additional states before other demands are ever considered. With just five when other zones have more, what we are saying is that Nigeria belongs to all of us,' he added.

'Ndigbo are tired of being wooed as bride by the other groups. We also want to be the bride groom. We need a refinery, our youths are restive because there are no jobs for them. Aso means Victory in Gwari. Until an Igbo man gets there, there is injustice in the system.'