February 26, 2001
Honorable Chief and esteemed Governor of Abia State. I have always thought you were a loudmouth who often made sense.
From your perch in Government house, Enugu, you have hammered away at the president, Olusegun Obasanjo for the sake of the Igbos.
You have gone on endlessly about the marginalization of the Igbos since the end of the ghastly Biafran War that left so many dead and those they left behind emotionally scared for life.
You recently called Igbo leaders "errand boys" implying that you are not one one of those who go to Abuja for their own benefit.
Just last month you stole the show with your fire speech at the Ohaneze Ndigbo summit when you asked Igbos to shoot for the presidency in 2003.
In case you've forgotten, I'll refresh your memory. You told the crowd: "we shall never empower people who will turn against us. My generation says enough is enough!" That brought everyone to their feet.
Uh huh.
Orji, you also said "Our children will not forgive us if we miss it in 2003, - ..Our votes should not be taken for granted again."
Orji whether you realized it or not, you represented hope. A brighter tomorrow, for all of Nigeria.
So when you strode in Chicago State University on Friday in your elegant black suit and trench coat, what were you doing?
How can you reconcile you firebrand activism and optimism for Nigeria when you joined those at the Abdulsalami A. Abubarkar lecture series on Democracy and Leadership in Africa.
You of all people.
Every one understood the presence of you pals and colleagues Governors Segun Osoba of Ogun State and Mohammed Lawal of Kwara State.
But you were supposed to be the man of principle, of integrity.
How could you attend a shameful event honoring a former dictator who only derived that honor because he donated a large sum of money to the school?
An undisclosed largesse that on can only guess where it come from.
Orji, Nigerian universities are crumbling. But I am sure you know that.
And as they continue to fall apart Abubarkar's largesse is going to an American University that has more money than any of our flagship schools.
You know that.
I hope the poignant disappointment of the Nigerian students and activists who confronted you, stays with you.
Your lame excuse, "Abubarkar has done a lot for democracy" is inexcusable. It shows that indeed, as one activist described you, you are an empty barrel.
You reasoning is much sadder than the tribute Obasanjo sent through his Ambassador Jibril Aminu. At least Obasanjo has a reason to say Abubarkar "retired into grace and glory"
You on the hand have bamboozled us with your idealism. Apparently it only goes but so far.
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