By Kenneth Udeh
Retired civil servants and pensioners in Abia State have commended Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for his enduring commitment to public service and grassroots development. Lauding his leadership as “a natural trait embedded in his DNA,” the group expressed their admiration during a recent inspection tour of constituency projects facilitated by the former governor and current Senator representing Abia North.
The visit, which included a stop at the newly completed male hostel at Hope Waddell Secondary School, highlighted the lawmaker’s wide-ranging impact across sectors—from education and infrastructure to healthcare and empowerment.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Rev. Kalu Ukpai Ota, a retired cleric and seasoned public servant, praised Senator Kalu for maintaining a consistent legacy of impact since his days as Governor of Abia State (1999–2007).
“What I’ve witnessed here is nothing short of remarkable. This level of impact is unprecedented in Abia’s legislative history—schools being built, roads constructed, educational materials distributed, and scholarships awarded for medical studies abroad. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is truly a vessel of divine purpose,” Rev. Ota remarked.
He urged other political leaders to emulate Kalu’s approach to public office, citing his humility, accessibility, and results-driven leadership.
“As governor, he championed free education, ensured timely pension payments, and respected the dignity of civil servants. Now, as senator, he continues to build and renovate schools, install solar street lights, and empower our communities,” he added.
Rev. Ota further noted his personal observation of over 50 new classroom blocks and solar lighting installations across more than 50 communities in the district—a feat he described as “a rare model of people-focused representation.”
Adding his voice, Prof. Uduma Kalu, a respected academic and policy commentator, praised Senator Kalu’s enduring legacy of development and reform.
“During his governorship, Orji Kalu prioritized workers’ welfare, introduced thirteenth-month salaries, and provided free healthcare. These policies were ahead of their time, and their ripple effects are still felt today,” he noted.
Prof. Kalu emphasized that since returning to the Senate in 2019, Senator Kalu has facilitated over 70 verifiable projects across Abia North, turning the district into a reference point for grassroots governance and infrastructural renewal.
“He leads by doing, not just by promising. That’s why we must continue to support him. He is a rare political figure whose performance transcends rhetoric,” Prof. Kalu concluded.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, has been at the center of various development efforts in the region. His growing portfolio of projects, particularly in education and rural development, continues to earn him broad-based recognition, even as political debates heat up ahead of future elections.