I am Benjamin Okezie Kalu and I am for the peace and reconciliation among political leaders in Abia State, our God's own State.
In an atmosphere of peace and unity ,growth and development are achieved at a higher speed. The pretense that all is well is very suffocating to me, the continuos claims from various quarters to monopoly of violence in the coming elections and thereafter, is very unpatriotic to our young State.
Believe me, I have worked closely with the two sides, not just in my various official capacities and responsibilities to the State, but as both family and friend and am amazed at the Billions of Naira
being put outside for the battle of the soul of Abia come 2015. These Billions of Naira will be buying violence for all the youths and security for the privileged few on a voyage to truncate Justice, fairness and equity. I weep for the blood of the youths from very poor homes that may be spilled as a price for the bloated interest and ego of a few.
The question is whether this is necessary in the midst of so many hungry youths looking for work to do and the aged looking for who to take care of them and our State in dire need of more industrialization.
Why cry tomorrow for the societal vices we give birth to today, When the only thing our youths are good at, is to be used as instruments of violence and destruction? why do we complain when they opt to make that, their life career? Hoping the State is not getting pregnant again with the likes of Osisi kankwus and his twin brothers.
This acrimony, disunity and lack of peace tend to build a monster out of most of us, but in the beginning it was not so. This was not the intention of the founding fathers of Abia State. ABIA, GODS OWN STATE.
Suffice the above to note that so many people are benefiting from this and as such have fought me severally for propagating peace for the past six years. My message has always been "peace is cheaper than war and there is more to gain in peace, than all that is lost in war in war". I have had to warn a lot of political big wigs asking me to support one side of the battle against the other. Their reason being that people like us have lost a lot because of this.
As enticing as that sounds, it is mere sentiments when properly weighed on a just scale.
The path of patriotism is yet to teach me that war against one another in the same family is a fundamental option to the integration and growth of any family, community or State.Rather Patriotism showcases the beauty of forgiveness,reconciliation and peace as the bedrocks for growth, remember Nelson Mandela's Model, he was not God, he was human yet he was able to do it and today the Peace he brought is more than the Prison he passed. This is beyond politics and if not checked will extend outside politics.
The two men at the center of this, are by no means saints and I say this without mincing words, for who is "let him cast the first stone" they have so many faults,both the one they accept and the one they argue about, they have made so many mistakes as well by the way they handled things or responded to things. This is why the issue is now beyond them, it is about us? Our State our peace our growth. Abia belongs to us all and not just for Dr Orji Kalu or Dr T A Orji. We must rise up for Peace, Unity and Growth of Abia State.
Where are the Stake holders in Abia State? Both the religious leaders from Abia State, the likes of Dr. Umar Ukpai? What has happened to the "rhema"in the beatitude message " blessed are the PEACE MAKERS for they shall be called the CHILDREN OF GOD"? To the traditional leaders, what has become of the famous adage of our fore fathers " dimkpa anaghi ano nu ulo, ewu amount no obu"?To the economic leaders , the captains of industries, when was the last time you built new factories in Abia ? Certainly the reason is not far fetched.etc. Lack of peace impedes growth.
Stop the blame game, stop the ugly name calling, stop heating up our polity with write ups that seeks to break us rather than build us, stop tagging me to such write ups, stop choosing war because your pockets are enriched by it and finally our leaders stop pilling up Billions of Naira for a fight that ought not to be there in the first place.
I have watched great older leaders in Abia do nothing about this, I have paid secret visits to a few great men of Abia to resolve this, I have spoken time without number to both the past Governor ,the current Governor and those around them and the response has been too slow. We are now reaching out to the Leaders in the South East Region.
If all fails, I know what revolution from the youths can bring at the appropriate time. In 2003 (11years ago) I was made The Mayor of Abia youths in an occasion where the then Chief of Staff, the current Governor was honored as well with an award. I know the value the youths bring to change and they are getting ready in their numbers for this change that is imminent. The recruitment we started about a year now has grown in their numbers to put things right in Abia State and Iam at the forefront with all supporters of peace, unity and growth of Abia State. SUPPORT PEACE AND RECONCILIATION, SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF ABIA STATE. ADD YOUR VOICE;Talk peace now. Not war. LONG LIVE ABIA STATE BEYOND DR.TA ORJI AND DR. ORJI KALU. Join me as we bring peace, unity and More growth to Abia State. You inspire us with sounds of PEACE than the DRUMS of WAR.
BARR. BENJAMIN O KALU
SILK PARTNERS LLP
LAGOS.