Protests Over Kalu’s Detention.

Protests over Kalu’s detention
By CHUKS ONUOHA, Umuahia
Monday, July 16, 2007

Thousands of placard-carrying protesters took to the streets and major roads enmasse in different parts of Abia, chanting solidarity songs as they demand immediate release of former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu.

Former Governor Kalu, they said, was arrested on spurious reasons of alleged money laundering and diversion of funds.
While some were protesting in their hamlets and villages, others headed straight to the Government House, Umuahia where they tendered their grievances before the governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

Speaking on behalf of his own group, Prince Felix Ogbonna, who hails from Ukwa area of the state, called for immediate release of the former governor who, he said, does not deserve such embarrassment.
"Tell Yar’Adua that we are also Niger Delta people and can still do something if we are pushed to the wall.

“Since he has said that he is forming a government of national unity, he should not allow anything that will divert his vision for the people of Nigeria. He should order EFCC to release Orji Kalu without delay," Ogbonna said.
Prince Ngozi William, spokesman of another group, said that they were in Government House to protest peacefully against the detention of Kalu and call for his immediate release.
"We say no to intimidation and harassment of innocent citizens. If the governor had committed the alleged offence, we are the ones that should have reported him, but in this case, he is innocent and should not be kept a minute longer in detention."

Others who made the same call included Chief Dickson Nwosu, Transition Chairman; Chairman of Umuahia North, Prince Dan Kalu, T. C., Chairman of Arochukwu LGA, Madam Love Alaezi from Bende LGA, and Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu, from Abia Central.
Nwosu said Kalu’s arrest was not only illegal, but a spite on the Igbo race. Also, Alaezi said the architect of Kalu’s travail were jealous of his popularity while Akwukwegbu described him as a man of the people.

Some of the placards they carried read: "We don’t want selective justice, EFCC, release our son Orji Kalu now; Federal Government, free our leader, we say no to intimidation; OUK has no case to answer, EFCC is agent of PDP,” etc.

Speaking to the protesting groups, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ukoha Kalu, said government had noted their grievances. "The government of the past is not government of today. We are sure that the government of Umaru Yar’Adua is a sensitive one that listens to the yearning of the people, we are sure that they will do something very soon. The governor said you should pursue your grievances peacefully.
“Please be calm in your demands because Kalu is a peaceful man," the CPS advised.

This news only appeared in the Sun, Orji Kalu's newspaper. What else do you expect

Trust me even if it happened they are a few rented crowd, true sons of Abia who traverse the death traps in the name of roads in Aba will not match on the same road to protest for anyone.

How did they even protest? did they have their trousers folded to avoid being wet by erosion.

I think say Orji been dey make gra-gra for Ribadu, May 29 don pass him they hope make the same people wey him loot their money protest his release.

Only a misguided bunch can engage on such venture.

They are wasting their breath! He will only be released if he is found innocent of the charges against him.

I'm an Igbo woman.
Let them pepper him if he's found guilty.
These people have taken away my inheritance and those of my kids.

My dear father who faithfully served in civil service is still owed arrears of pension while Orji and his fellow robbers were robbing us blind.
Let them show them no mercy.
Let the law take full effect.
Ole.

Infact those protesters should be captured and flogged

It all comes back to "a corrupt system and a very dirty culture"

please her children are not even Nigerians, they are AKATA boys,  lets stop comparing home grown kids to aje butter like BIGGy   

Just wondering - why can' they mobilize the same number of people to clear the refuse heaps that is almost burying
Abia state - Aba to be specific?

Exactly! That would be fantastic. As they are so jobless, lets make them useful to society 

I'm sure they mean that they can carry machine guns and kidnap people too

I think they should tie this criminals to a stake from city to city and let the masses give them a piece of their minds.

if igbinedion is left alone without being persecuted, then i will know all these probing is a mere lie and conspiracy in the part of pdp and efcc

Sure. Abia is in the Niger Delta, together with Imo. But Ijaw people have now what they call core-Niger Delta where they have imaginarily excluded the above two states just because they are Ibo (sic)

even if he is guilty, it won't take him more than 6 months in jail and then he is free again and before you know it, he is contesting for presidential post again

Very true. I hear he has returned a lot though

So Orji kalu is now the latest thief in town enh?. What about Obasanjo who left office covered in riches and blood, Anenih who wasted 300bilion of  tax payers money in Objs 2nd term, Andy Uba who bettered  himself to the tune of 1.3 trilion in declared assets or should we talk about peter odili who "dashed" the EFCC 50 billion from his proceeds in  his states "pot of soup"? Until all these  people are arrested to take their place in the dock with kalu and co, until then I will continue to support kalu in his travails. Away with selective justice. Nothing is as horrible as a righteous thief!! Almost all if not all the former governors collected meat from their state's "pot of soup"

The next we will hear is that their family was rich before Lucky became governor. My question then will be how come we didnt see them living this life style before now?