By Steven Atokolo
A United States–based advocacy organisation, The Rising Sun Group, has cautioned Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) against what it called “reckless, misleading and politically motivated” public remarks about the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Maxwell Dede, and Coordinator, Father Augustine Odeinmegwa, the group berated Kalu’s recent appearance on Channels Television, describing the interview as “disgraceful and insensitive.”
The group said it was disturbed by the Senator’s claim that more than 30,000 people had lost their lives as a result of IPOB agitation and by his defence of Justice James Omotosho, whose controversial judgment against Kanu has come under intense criticism.
Kalu made the claim only days after the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Kanu and handed him a life sentence.
According to the statement, “Instead of keeping quiet if he had nothing meaningful to contribute, Senator Kalu chose to attack Nnamdi Kanu over his understandable reaction to the barefaced injustice meted to him by Justice Omotosho”.
The organisation also faulted Kalu for suggesting that he played a key role in securing Kanu’s release in 2017.
“As if that were not enough, he began to make wild claims of being instrumental to Kanu’s release in 2017”, the statement added.
The Rising Sun Group also accused Kalu of ridiculing the Igbo people and all those who have criticised the judgment, saying his position aligns with what many have long suspected.
“Although we are saddened by his reckless remarks, we are not surprised because a leopard never changes its skin. Senator Kalu has confirmed that he remains among the Igbo elite willing to play any role for political survival”.
The group condemned Kalu’s comparison of his past corruption trial to Kanu’s case.
“It is an insult on Ndigbo for Senator Kalu to shamelessly cite his calmness during his trial for fraud as opposed to Nnamdi Kanu’s alleged conduct in court. There is no connection between the offence for which Kalu was convicted and the biased charges and strange conviction of Kanu.”
The statement alleged that Kalu is attempting to exploit Kanu’s predicament to win favour with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“What Ndigbo will not tolerate is any attempt to use Kanu’s case as a bargaining chip for political relevance. Thinking that he can verbally attack Kanu to win Tinubu’s favour and secure a return ticket in 2027 shows he is only smart by half”.
The group reminded Nigerians that Kalu openly worked against Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid by campaigning for Senator Ahmed Lawan.
“Nigerians are not as daft as Senator Kalu imagines. They know the real motive behind his sudden love for President Tinubu”.
The Rising Sun Group challenged Kalu to substantiate his assertion that 30,000 people were killed due to IPOB agitation.
“Who ordered the killings he claims? Was he referring to the massacre of IPOB members at Nkpor and Onitsha, those murdered while praying at National High School Aba, or those killed in Port Harcourt during the pro-Trump rally?”
The group accused the former governor of ignoring documented reports of extrajudicial killings of IPOB members by security agencies.
“How could he blame IPOB members, who have been the real victims of brutality, for offences they did not commit?”
The statement concluded by warning Kalu against further “unguarded political moves” around Kanu’s case.
“We warn Orji Uzor Kalu and his fellow political opportunists to desist from further treacherous remarks concerning Kanu’s ordeal. History will not be kind to anyone who betrays his people for selfish gains”.
