Laraba MUREY
A United States–based advocacy organisation, The Rising Sun Group, has accused Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of exploiting the ongoing case of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for political advantage.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Maxwell Dede, and Coordinator, Father Augustine Odeinmegwa, the group warned Kalu to desist from making what it described as “reckless, misleading and politically motivated” remarks about Kanu.
The organisation condemned the former Abia State governor’s recent appearance on Channels Television, describing his comments as “disgraceful” and “calculated to mislead the public.”
The Rising Sun Group said it was alarmed by Kalu’s claim that more than 30,000 people had died as a result of IPOB-related agitation, as well as his defence of Justice James Omotosho, whose ruling against Kanu has been widely criticised.
“Instead of keeping quiet if he had nothing useful to say, Senator Kalu chose to lambast Nnamdi Kanu over his angry reaction to the barefaced injustice meted to him by Justice Omotosho,” the group said.
It also accused Kalu of attempting to “rewrite history” by claiming he played a pivotal role in securing Kanu’s release in 2017.
“As if that were not enough, Senator Kalu began to make wild claims of his purported instrumentality in securing Kanu’s release in 2017,” the statement added.
The group further alleged that the former governor disparaged the Igbo and those who expressed disappointment over the judgment, which it described as “a travesty of justice.”
According to the statement, Kalu’s posture only confirmed long-held suspicions about his motives.
“Although we are embittered at such reckless remarks, we are not surprised because we know that a leopard can never change the colour of its skin,” it said.
The Rising Sun Group accused Kalu of being among “Igbo elites ready to play any role because of political interest,” and faulted his comparison of his own corruption trial to Kanu’s ongoing case.
“It is an insult on Ndigbo for Senator Kalu to shamelessly cite his sad calmness during his trial for financial fraud as opposed to Nnamdi Kanu’s alleged unruly behaviour in court,” the group stated.
“There is no nexus between the offence for which he was convicted and jailed and the trumped-up charges, biased trial and strange conviction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
It further alleged that Kalu was seeking relevance and attempting to use Kanu’s plight to curry favour with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“What Ndigbo will not accept from Orji Uzor Kalu is any attempt to use Kanu’s matter to curry favour from the Presidency,” it warned.
The group recalled that Kalu had openly opposed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition, insisting Nigerians were aware of the motives behind his recent posture.
“It is an open secret that Orji Uzor Kalu was among those who vigorously opposed Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023 when he openly campaigned for Senate President Ahmed Lawan,” it said.
“Nigerians are not as daft as Senator Kalu thinks. They already know the real motive behind his sudden love for President Tinubu.”
The Rising Sun Group challenged Kalu to provide clarity on his claim that 30,000 people had been killed due to IPOB agitation.
“Since Orji Uzor Kalu claims that over 30,000 people were killed in the South East as a result of the agitation by Nnamdi Kanu, can he tell the world who authorised the said killings?” it queried.
The group accused the senator of ignoring what it called documented killings of IPOB members by security agents.
“How could Orji Uzor Kalu justifiably blame IPOB members who are rather the hapless victims of brutality by security operatives for offences they did not commit?” it added.
The statement described Kalu as a “serial political opportunist” and cautioned him against further “unguarded and treacherous remarks” about Kanu’s ordeal.
“We warn Orji Uzor Kalu and his fellow political opportunists to refrain from further unguarded and treacherous remarks concerning Kanu’s ordeal. History will judge anyone who betrays his people for selfish gains,” it said.
