Former Abia State Governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has shared details of a private conversation he had with the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, during the latter’s final days.
Kalu, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday, said Ojukwu made it clear to him that while the first Biafra agitation was justified, any renewed attempt at secession was unnecessary.
Kalu also dismissed criticism from certain quarters, suggesting he is less Igbo than others in the South-East because of his political ideology or national outlook.
The lawmaker said, “I am full blooded Igbo. I was with late Ojukwu in the later days of his life, and his wife, Mrs Bianca, can testify that I was always coming to the General, and the General was coming to my village to stay some days or weekends.
“And then Ojukwu told me that the first struggle for Biafra was necessary, that the second one is no longer necessary.
“Even if these boys want Biafra, who are you going to rule when you kill all the Igbos? When do you stop all Igbos from doing business?
“When on Mondays, if you see people going out for business, you start pursuing them and killing them? I mean, it is not rational. It is not just nice.
“I thought with what happened to Nnamdi Kanu, these boys should come together at a table and say, how do we get peace to resolve this matter politically? And they are still talking tough as they are trying to behave.
“So I think even if they want Biafra, they should drop their arms and go with their flags and demand what they want, negotiate for it and talk about a referendum.
“Even the man who fought the Civil War, his wife is saying the same thing I’m saying. Minister Bianca Ojukwu knows the thought of her husband, and nobody will believe in the destruction of the Igbo land. Enough is enough.
“Let us stop destroying ourselves. Let us stop destroying our properties. Let us stop destroying what we have.
“Look, there is no more commerce in the entire Igbo land. How are we going to live? Things are difficult. Things are very bad for people living there. So how are we going to live? These are the issues.”
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