Not A Victim

Former Abia State governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who was convicted and jailed for corruption last December, has sympathisers who claim he was imprisoned for reasons other than his guilt. Kalu was sentenced to 12 years in prison for N7.65billion fraud and money laundering after a 12-year trial. Kalu’s appeal failed this week as the Court of Appeal, Abuja, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

Curiously, the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, also this week, introduced a new narrative, saying the group would expose those who allegedly influenced Kalu’s imprisonment.

Yerima told journalists in Abuja: “We are aware that some persons, especially those within APC, never believed Orji Kalu will succeed in winning the senatorial election. In fact, they created so many obstacles to prevent him from getting the party’s ticket and when he eventually succeeded they conspired and mobilised forces against him winning the election proper. But they are not Allah who decides, so he won the election with a landslide.

“Yet they went after him again through the electoral tribunal, but because Allah has destined him to be in the Senate, he triumphed at the Appeal tribunal again. Yet these enemies re-strategised and again came after him through this long-standing case and turned the table around. We know the story.”

Yerima blamed “over-ambitious individuals” in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Kalu’s troubles. Indeed, Kalu may well have enemies in the party who do not wish him well.  But the question is whether Kalu was guilty of corruption.

Yerima also said:  “At the appropriate time, we shall name those involved in this conspiracy against this peace-loving former governor. Yes, we shall name those behind this rubbish because they are the real enemies of Nigeria… very soon, the public will know who they are. Nothing is hidden under the sun for too long.”

When will the “appropriate time” come for the promised exposure? Portraying Kalu as a victim does not mean he is a victim. It took 12 years to determine Kalu’s guilt after starts and stops. His trial had begun before the APC was founded in 2013, which is seven years ago.

Yerima is free to sympathise with Kalu. He is also free to try to prove Kalu’s alleged innocence.  But his trial and conviction showed that he was guilty as charged.  Yerima’s attempt to politicise Kalu’s punishment for corruption is ridiculous and dishonest.

NATION