From Kenneth Udeh, Igbere
Members of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC), Reality Organisation worldwide and the OUK Movement have reaffirmed their allegiance to the political aspirations of the senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
Converging on the lawmaker’s Igbere country home in Bende Local Government Area, leaders of the Abia-North chapter of APC, Reality Organisation and Abia’s largest socio-political group, OUK Movement, re-dedicated their loyalty to the former Abia governor citing his leadership style and development strides in their senatorial zone.
Local government and ward executives of the three groups that assembled at the behest of the chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation to receive their share of his annual Yuletide packages, lauded the Senator’s philanthropic endeavours which they attested to be non-political since its inception in I986 before he joined politics.
Speaking on behalf of their members, the local government chairmen of APC, who addressed newsmen, highlighted the infrastructural projects like schools, road, water boreholes built by Kalu in all the 448 communities in Abia-North, promising to remain committed to the lawmaker in order to benefit more.
They lauded Kalu for his annual Yuletide philanthropic gestures which they said has become a norm. “This year’s programme is coming at the right time considering the current economic realities.”
Abia State Chairman of OUK Movement, Ojisi Ogbaja, commended Kalu for sustaining development at the grassroots. Ogbaja, who benefitted from the 25,000 bags of rice and cash grants distributed, praised the senator’s generosity.
“Kalu is showing his love in a practical way at the grassroots and he has changed the norm by personally distributing the items directly to the beneficiaries himself.
“This is wonderful. People will witness what is going on to avoid foul play. To be honest, it will make a huge impact at the grassroots, because the OUK Movement is a grassroots-oriented structure.
“We have direct touch with the people because we believe every political alignment starts from the ward. The ward is the base and that is where we are focused. Kalu is a grassroots person and down-to-earth.”
On the strength of the organisation’s structure across the state, Ojisi expressed joy that the political structure remains unrivalled in the state, adding that its membership strength has continued to expand across every nook and cranny.
Ojisi acknowledged Kalu’s tenure at the Senate which, he said, has been an eye opener to their constituents by making them realise that lawmakers had the capacity to build infrastructure as against what their former National Assembly representatives told them that it was impossible.
Pledging the organisation’s loyalty, Ojisi said: “The business of politics deals with human beings which you cannot manufacture or import from any country and you need people to succeed in the business of politics.
“OUK Movement has no rival as far as Abia State is concerned. We proved it when President Bola Tinubu came to campaign in Abia, they saw it clearly. We are in every community across Abia State, it is not about Abia North only.
“His continuity will favour us not just as a political structure but the people in all areas because of his impact. Before now, we never knew a senator can attract roads, water, schools, but Kalu has opened our eyes and orientation. He has set a very high standard for whosoever that will take over from him whenever he leaves politics. We believe he is not done yet and that 2027 is guaranteed for him. The Senate seat of Abia North is no go area for any other person.”
Umunneochi council APC Chairman, Ugochukwu Ezekwesiri, also noted that Kalu has been a good ambassador of the party at the National Assembly based on his achievements in Abia-North and pledged to support the future aspirations of the lawmaker.
“What we have witnessed today is an example of true leadership. We have known Kalu to be a senator of the people as he has done it again. Today, he has proven to party members that he is representing them well.
“We thank and appreciate our senator for this largesse and we promise him we shall always follow him like we started in 1998 when he began politicking and we shall continue to follow him.
“He has never lost elections in Umunneochi since he started contesting and he will never lose any election in our local government. We appreciate him and still want him to do more,” he said.
Bende council APC Chairman, Ulu Onwuchekwe, chronicled how Kalu mobilised his personal resources to win the zone’s Senate, House of Representatives and Assembly seats in favour of the party in 2019.
Ulu assured the party’s national leadership that APC in the South-East is safe under Kalu.
“Even those that are not in APC, as long as you are from Abia-North, you are entitled to receive all the items. We are grateful to Kalu. He is a blessing to Nigeria not only Abia-North. If APC wants the control of the entire South-East, he should be saddled with the leadership of the party. This is a man that started financing the party with his personal funds in 2017. The party is safe under Kalu; he has an unbeatable understanding of the politics and passion of the party.”
Chairman of the party in Ohafia, Emma Nwosu, thanked Kalu for the Yuletide packages, saying it is a demonstration of love that would impact the people, especially those finding it hard under the current economic realities.
Nwosu said: “As a matter of fact, we pray for him to continue to serve his people. I am speaking the minds of the constituents of Ohafia council. He is a great man who has the concern of his people at heart and he has performed in all ramifications.”
John Ikechukwu Okorie, chairman of the party in Arochukwu Local Government Area, said the people had no regrets voting for Kalu to return to the Senate.
Describing Kalu’s tenure as eventful, he disclosed the resolve of the majority to back his political aspirations.
He said: “You can see that people are happy and are not regretting that we voted for Kalu to represent us at the Senate and he has performed excellently well. We pray to Almighty God to continue to bless him.
“When you come to our roads in Abia-North starting from Arochukwu, he has built so many roads, when you go to Itumbuzor, if that road was not constructed, Arochukwu people cannot get to Umuahia but today within one hour and 20 mins, you are already in Umuahia all because of Kalu. We pray to God to bless and keep him for us. Majority of the people have said they’ll support his political ambition in 2027.”
Chairman of renowned socio-political group, the Reality Organisation, Peter Ndukwe, urged Kalu to remain steadfast in his philanthropic and public service duties. He said the organisation, APC and the OUK Movement are working in unison towards a common purpose. “This is not new and has become a norm. The OUK Movement is one family. In challenging times like this, this is what is expected of a leader. He has shown an example as a leader, our prayer is that we will sustain this programme and God will give him the strength to sustain this development and his aspirations will be realised.”