Why I Apologised to Anenih, By Kalu
From Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City
Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State yesterday explained that he accepted to apologize to the Acting Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, not necessarily out of a sense of guilt.
Kalu said he undertook the action of burying the hatchet as a gesture of his profound respect for the Benin monarch, Omo N'Oba Erediauwa, and the traditional institution in a bid to advance the cause of democracy in Nigeria.
The governor, who, Wednesday night, embraced Anenih at the palace of the Benin monarch in a rare emotional exhibition of reconciliation, paid a courtesy call on his Edo State counterpart, Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion yesterday.
Kalu, who noted that Abia and Edo states "have a lot in common", said that he responded positively to the invitation of the Oba of Benin "in the interest of peace and good governance in the country, because I believe in the need for Nigerians to continue fighting for the country and for the people in the true spirit of democracy."
He said that he regarded the words of the Oba of Benin more or less as law he has to obey when Erediauwa asked him to apologize to Anenih.
Kalu, who joked that he might return in 2007 as a local government chairman or even a councilor, stated:
"I decided to embrace the channel of peace and reconciliation by accepting to apologize to Chief Anenih not because I felt I was wrong but because the Oba of Benin, whose invitation brought me to Benin, decreed so. And, indeed, I consider the words of the Benin monarch as decree or law, which I must accept and adhere to.
"So, when the Oba told me 'you are the younger one, go and apologize' I took it and said, 'Your Majesty!'
"It is a well known fact that this was a matter that lasted for months and our party, the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) tried very hard but could not resolve it; but the Oba settled the matter within a space of time of just about two hours. I hope and I'm believing God that it will be permanent."
He said that he would always be grateful to Igbinedion, as he highly appreciated the special role played by the Edo State governor in resolving the dispute that had hitherto defied all entreaties from a cross section of Nigerian leaders.
Responding, Igbinedion said he would always stand for peace because "peace might be expensive, but war is costly", and commended Kalu for his "sense of responsibility and maturity" in deciding to bury the hatchet and extend a hand of fellowship to Anenih.
Igbinedion said he thanked God as well as all the parties involved in the reconciliation process for the happy outcome of Wednesday evening meeting.
Kalu had, a couple of months ago accused Anenih of threatening to kill him, an allegation that was denied by the former works minister.
In an open letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo, published in virtually all the national newspapers, Kalu had alleged that his Deputy, Dr. Chima Nwafor, told him that during a discussion with Anenih, the PDP board chairman threatened to kill him(Kalu) because of his criticism of his tenure as Works minister.
Kalu, while maintaining that he resolved to raise alarm following the spate of politically motivated killings across the country, also made insinuations that the former South South leader of the PDP, Chief A.K. Dikibo may have been a victim of politically motivated assassination.
Though, Anenih initially maintained silence over the allegations, he later denied ever issuing such a threat against Kalu throughout his discussions with Nwafor at the airport. Anenih consequently instituted a libel suit against the governor.
The issue, however, assumed a dramatic twist when Nwafor agreed that he had discussions with Anenih at the airport but denied ever telling Kalu that Anenih said he was going to kill him.
In a bid to resolve the crisis, the PDP leadership waded into the matter and set-up a committee to investigate the allegation against its board chairman.
The committee, at the end of its work, absolved Anenih and recommended that Kalu should tender apology to the party and Anenih.
Kalu, however, agreed to apologise to the party but vowed not to apologise to Anenih.
Igbinedion also yesterday noted that democracy in Nigeria was still bedeviled by many teething problems and carpeted the Federal Government and public figures "who should know better" than frequently casting aspersions on the integrity of state governors over fiscal practices.
He vowed that "deductions from local government allocations will continue as long as they are statutory and legal deductions, like deductions towards pension and even stipends or allowances to traditional rulers."
"Close to N18 billion has been deducted by the Federal Government from allocations to Edo State since 1999" without any explanation or justification, Igbinedion said adding that the Federal Government was apparently more culpable in fiscal indiscipline than the states.
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