He who says what he likes, hears what he does not like (Spanish Proverb)
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions (Miscellaneous Proverb)
When the breeze blows, it exposes the fowl's anus (Ifufe fe, ahu ike´ ökükö) (Igbo Proverb)
When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it (A.A. Milne, from The House at Pooh Corner)
Above all, I would teach him to tell the truth . . . Truth- telling, I have found, is the key to responsible citizenship. The thousands of criminals I have seen in 40 years of law enforcement have had one thing in common: Every single one was a liar. (J. Edgar Hoover)

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alu has started an altercation between him and Atiku by what the Nation Newspapers of Feb. 17, 2009 wrote. In the report by the Paper captioned "Orji Kalu lambasts Atiku for visiting Obasanjo", Kalu was quoted as having said that he is disappointed with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for visiting former President Olusegun Obasanjo. That Atiku's decision to reconcile with the former President had dealt a deadly blow to the rank of the progressives.

Then, the ThisDay Newspapers of Feb. 21, 2009 with the caption "Orji Kalu is a Liar, Says Atiku" quoted Atiku Abubakar as having described the former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu as a perpetual liar and a political liability. Atiku also denied that claims made by Kalu that as vice president, he controlled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Nation Newspapers also wrote that Kalu (in his words) said: "Let me be honest with you, since the former Vice-President went to meet Obasanjo in his home, I have been very shocked and surprised because he was the same man who made me to lose Hallmark Bank, Slok Air and everything. Obasanjo sent for my mother and told her to tell her son that number one is bigger than number two. I cannot stake my friendship for politics. We saw Atiku going to talk to Obasanjo without consulting anybody; this is the same man that made thousands of people to lose their means of livelihood because of the feud between him and Obasanjo. I have no problem with Obasanjo, the issue is that we wanted to defend democracy and in 2003, the former Vice-President also made the same mistake.

Atiku while reacting, said the accusations against him were false and mischievous. Atiku also denied that it was Kalu who told former President Olusegun Obasanjo that he was not a marketable presidential material, insisting that Kalu turned the truth on its head. Atiku said, through a release from his camp, "If Governor Kalu is still confused about what happened to his Slok Airlines and the two banks as he claimed, he knows where to go to. "Throughout his eight-year service as vice-president, Atiku Abubakar did not have the responsibility of overseeing the EFCC. It is therefore unfair to blame Atiku for the Obasanjo administration's antagonistic policies which led to the collapse of his businesses.

"We urge Kalu to put the blame where it belongs and to seek redress for alleged victimization just as others who have felt wrongly treated by what that administration have done,

The statement from Atiku's camp noted that "Kalu's repeated charge that Atiku was responsible for the failure of the progressives to seize power in Nigeria is false and mischievous.

While Kalu was quoted as having said: "We had already removed Obasanjo, the trouble we have in this country was caused by Obasanjo and Atiku. I do not know why these men think they can take us for a ride. I would not be taken for a ride because I expected Atiku to consult widely".

Atiku replied him through these powerful words: "As someone who occasionally suffers from memory loss and deliberately distorts history to suit his selfish motives, we would like to remind him how he thwarted efforts by several political parties to float a mega opposition party to confront the PDP in 2007." blinded by his own ambition and the delusion that the presidency of Nigeria is open to just anyone with money and sufficient rascality, Kalu chose to go solo after stakeholders had agreed on its name, colours, and logo. It is surprising that such a 'lone ranger' wants to be consulted on Atiku's decision to visit his former boss, Obasanjo, when the same Kalu had smuggled his PPA into the so called Government of National Unity at the centre without talking to anyone."

Kalu said: "In 2003, we had already removed Obasanjo - myself and James Ibori and 21 other PDP governors - because we told Obasanjo that he was not marketable, that if the party fielded him as its candidate, it would lose. But within 10 hours, Atiku changed his mind and made up with Obasanjo; he then called us to agree with him. We warned him that we were signing our death warrant and today, Atiku has gone back to Obasanjo".

Atiku in counteracting this point said: "I have also asked three of the 16 governors at the settlement meeting with Obasanjo shortly before the 2003 primaries, not 21 as Kalu claimed in his statement and they confirmed to me that the Kalu lied when he claimed to have told Obasanjo to his face that he was not electable or marketable.

"I have confirmed that those were the words of former Governor James Ibori of Delta State. They said that it was James who had the courage to make that speech not you, Kalu."

Kalu went on to say: "Atiku will remain my friend for the rest of life but I will not have anything to do with him politically. So, he can do his own politics, I will do my own politics. I can agree with him, certainly not on political issues. I lost my livelihood, Hallmark Bank, South Gate Bank; I lost them because of this problem. Now, look at me, Slok Air, 10 aircraft, B737-400 and 200 series, Obasanjo swept away these aircraft because of politics. I really feel that Atiku has not done very well. He owes us a lot of explanation."

Here, Atiku advised Kalu to grow up, because for him "a man (Orji Uzoh Kalu) nearing 50 should not continue to play the role of a jester. And Atiku reminded Kalu that only few people take him seriously in this country."

Atiku said he felt greatly relieved that Kalu has decided to distance himself from him (Atiku). Saying that Kalu is a liability, not an asset to any serious person! Atiku bemoaned about how low this country has descended that a man (Orji Uzoh Kalu) that is standing trial for corruption should be going around with a swagger and maligning his elders in order to earn some political points!

Atiku is right here: Orji Uzoh Kalu is supposed to be rotting away in prison where he really belongs, rather than going about turning himself into a public nuisance. Kalu should tell us from where he got all the money to establish an airline, 2 banks, shipping lines and other numerous businesses? As Atiku rightly pointed out, Kalu is a liability; he is standing almost all alone, people have deserted him; the ground is shifting under him, he is standing on the mud that will soon swallow him politically; like a drowning man, he is struggling, trying to clutch to any thing that comes his way; he is going down and is looking for those to take down along with him, he is very desperate because his political space is shrinking everyday.

Kalu is a delinquent as Atiku rightly pointed out. He refuses to grow even at his age. This is what Obasanjo once said as written by The Daily Independent Newspapers of March 3, 2007:

"President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday publicly apologised on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for offering Abia State a governor whom he said has failed the people, the state and the entire country in the eight years of civilian administration. I regret that the government here in Abia may not have done as much as we expected it to do. It is because we allowed an adult delinquent to grab power. Without mincing words, you need someone who will not fritter away your state funds. You need one who will not steal your wealth and invest it into a so-called airline and turn Abia State into a pariah state, Obasanjo told the crowd. Can you ever imagine the kind of man in an African context, in an Igbo context, who will ever fervently be a liar? I came here and I was asked to commission a road. I went, of course, and after I had commissioned the road, two people came to me and said: 'do you know what you've done'? I said yes, I commissioned a road and they said, 'two other persons before you had commissioned that same road'. It was that bad."

Kalu in the report by the Nation Newspapers said: "What we are preparing for is to brief the people to know their rights on voting, to let the people know their rights of defending their votes and let them be able to defend democracy".

Can anyone imagine that somebody like Kalu will be saying such a thing after all he and his family did in Abia State to disenfranchise the people of that state?

Kalu said further that: "PPA will be there fighting the course of democracy. I am now begin to talk to people I want to talk to politically, in terms of building alliances. Bafarawa is there. Kure is there. All my former colleagues are there. We can forge ahead. I will surprise Nigerians in 2011, democratically; you will see it."

I wonder who Kalu is trying to fool here, look at the people he is building a coalition of the willing with. That will tell you what a non-starter he is.

In that same report, Kalu aligned with those advocating a 10-year ban for electoral offenders as contained in the proposed electoral reforms. He also praised President Umaru Yar'Adua for the electoral reforms, noting that although a lot of Nigerians are undermining Yar'Adua, he could end up being one of Nigeria's best presidents. In Kalu's words: "Anybody looking down on Yar'Adua will be shocked, how he will take the reform. I am telling you he will come out as the best president to reform Nigeria's electoral process. So, let people not look down on what he can do."

It is good that Kalu is supporting the 10-year ban for electoral offenders and that should start with him because there is no greater electoral offender than him. Nigerians would want Kalu to go further than that, by advocating also a life ban for all corrupt politicians indicted by the EFCC or any court, and then we will know that he is serious because he will be one of the first to go into political oblivion, where he should really be.

Kalu is also trying to safe face by saying nice things about YarÁdua after he described the President as "sick and incompetent". But the governorship candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPA) in Anambra State in the 2007 election, Emeka Okafor, denied that Kalu ever used those derogatory words for YarÁdua. One wonders why Kalu didn't come out to do the denial himself.

ThisDay Newspapers of Thursday, January 22, 2009 wrote this about Kalu:

"……….Cultural Festival in his lush country home in Igbere which ordinarily ought to be a local traditional festival involving mainly families, was turned into a forum to attempt rebuilding his political relevance and try new allies, after the huge setback suffered from the humiliation of EFCC corruption trial. It was during one of such meetings that the former governor allegedly told his audience that he believed he could beat Yar'Adua silly in 2011. He allegedly pointed out that Yar'Adua was sick and incompetent.

The source added that part of Orji's strategy so far was that he must hold Abia and Imo States because retaining their control would be crucial to his ambition. According to the source, the former governor believes his PPA can take over Anambra State where a governorship election is due next year. The source further stated that another of Orji Kalu's strategy is to keep APGA disunited and fractious to further weaken Peter Obi's chances while planning to sponsor a spoiler candidate inside PDP to ensure the party never becomes strong enough to pose an electoral challenge. He said to show his seriousness in taking Anambra from the back as he did in Imo.

Orji on Wednesday, January 7, allegedly paid a visit to Anambra political godfather and oil magnate, at his Enugu mansion and offered him the governorship of Anambra state on a platter of gold. He allegedly assured the politician that he had concluded negotiations with the judges on the Abia/Imo cases and only needed some more money to pay them off. He lobbied Arthur to contribute money for PPA retaining Abia/Imo. Arthur Eze's cousin who was in the meeting cautioned his brother against getting involved in political financing again considering what the business mogul suffered in the hands of President Obasanjo for being close to General Sani Abacha. Obasanjo, Arthur's cousin reminded them, dried up the man's business contacts. He warned his brother not to antagonise Yar'Adua at the centre by financing Orji Kalu and wondered aloud why Kalu should approach his cousin for funding if, as he (Kalu) boasts, he is a self-made billionaire.

A day after the Enugu encounter Authur Eze, the former governor was also said to have met with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ), Professor Maurice Iwu in Abuja where the topic of discussion was how to win Anambra for PPA as a first step in dislodging Yar'Adua come 2011 and other various 'victory models'. At the end of the discussion, it was believed that they settled for the "Abia Model" whereby INEC would proceed to announce the PPA candidate as winner irrespective of who wins the election. "A lot of his success would depend on Maurice Iwu retaining his position as INEC Chairman. If he holds Abia and Imo (by influencing pending Court judgments) and gets Anambra in 2010, then the rest of the South East would melt like butter in 2011"

Another peg in Kalu's strategy according to investigation is to use the media to keep IBB out of the race and sow discord in the Action Congress (AC) to frustrate former Vice President Atiku's prospects. Kalu said in one of the strategy sessions that Tinubu and Oshiomhole would eventually break with Atiku and would form an alliance with him for the Presidential election.

He also plans to nudge the Abia State government to challenge the ruling of a Federal High Court in Umuahia which nullified the report of an Administrative panel of inquiry he set up during his government and which indicted several leading Nigerians including President Yar'Adua, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Obasanjo." The court threw away the report as being malicious since none of the indicted persons was ever given an opportunity to defend themselves. The indictment however formed one of the grounds for disqualification in the petition General Buhari brought to the Tribunal seeking to quash President Yar'Adua's election. The suit that nullified the panel's report was filed by the governorship candidate of the PDP in Abia State who was also indicted alongside President Yar'Adua and Jonathan"

For this writer: Atiku on his own part is also good in lies, deceits and denials just like his ilk such as Kalu and I am not holding forth for him.

ThisDay Newspapers of Dec. 01, 2007 wrote that the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Finance Minister under the General Muhammed Buhari military regime, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye were among the beneficiaries of the $6 million bribe distributed by an American oil service company, Wilbros Group, to secure contracts for the eastern gas gathering system (EGGS) in Nigeria. I have always maintained that Atiku was corrupt to the bone marrow right from his time as a senior customs officer till when he was the vice-president. A sitting Vice-President of a country accepting bribe to facilitate a contract! I have said it so many times that Atiku's attitude as vice-president was disgusting. He is such a person that Nigerians should be thankful to the Almighty in heaven that he was not elected the president. As he is desperate to rule Nigeria, we should not allow that to happen. Even as the Tribune Newspapers of Feb. 21, 2009 with the caption "Atiku Bounces Back - Revives PDM" wrote that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has started re-launching himself into the full stream of politics ahead of 2011 presidential election, having now infused life into the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), a political machinery created by the late General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua. The Paper wrote further that the feelers from Atiku's camp suggest that the former vice president has started re-oiling the PDM political wheel to pave way for his return to power in 2011 amid speculations that he is set to return to the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) which he co-founded. Atiku is said to have held meetings with top members of the PDM in all the geo-political zones. We learnt from the report that former vice president have been holding talks with former governors including Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Chief Donald Duke, Chief Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha, Chief James Ibori of Edo, Cross River, Bayelsa and Delta States on his next political move.

Atiku talking with these guys means that he has never change and only wants power for his selfish ends. He should be stopped on his track.

Don't forget that a United States grand jury once indicted him by saying that: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar agreed to accept a bribe in the form of a percentage in order to assist United States Congressman, William Jefferson, secure a business deal in Nigeria. This US Grand Jury also indicted Jefferson for racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Atiku can sell Nigeria without blinking; if, he becomes the president. Nigerians should not forget that the FBI searched his home in Maryland when he was still the vice-president because of corruption allegations against him. A disgrace! Atiku as a vice-president used our commonwealth to enrich himself and empower his friends and cohorts and saw nothing wrong with that.

Continued on Part 2

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