…Distributes rice, cash, other items
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
His veins frequently flow with the milk of human kindness. He is not learning how to climb that rope, no, as he has remained a great player in the philanthrophy game.
The late Reggae music maestro, Bob Marley, in one of his lyrics said: “They say the sun shines, and it shines for all, but there are some people, it never shined at all…” Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has for 38 solid years become a ray of light of sorts for such people whose sun has not shined, touching their lives in more than one way.
Making the people feel good and giving their lives a meaning has remained one of the trade marks of Kalu even before he joined politics.
The last Yuletide-cum-New Year festivities were no exception to the former governor’s philanthropic gesture. Although he didn’t come home on time as he used to for the festivities as a result of the load of work at the National Assembly, but immediately Kalu arrived at Igbere, his home town on December 31, the whole of Abia North knew the eagle has landed.
The Christmas jollies journey for Kalu’s constituents began when he shared 30,000 bags of rice and cash to people living in Igbere, his immediate constituency.
Being a detribalised Nigerian, Senator Kalu personally supervised the sharing to ensure that non-natives of the community received their due share.
The Senator did not stop at that, he equally extended the largesse to members of executives of the Abia North chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Reality Organization and the OUK Movement, all of who were given over 25,000 bags of rice and some cash.
Kalu later in a statement said: “Based on my invitation, members of executives of the Abia-North chapter of the All Progressives Congress, Reality Organisation and the OUK Movement converged at my Igbere country home today (Sunday) to receive their share of Christmas and New Year packages which I distributed in line with my custom which I started 38 years ago.
“I distributed to them 25,000 bags of rice and cash grants which I personally supervised to ensure fairness. I am delighted to share with them the Joy that this festive season brings while reassuring them of my commitment to consolidate on my successes recorded at the Senate in the areas of infrastructure, education, empowerment and so on.
“These palliatives are personally funded and not from the Federal Government as it’s wrongly thought or spread by fifth columnists who derive joy in spreading fake news.”
It has been a routine Kalu has consistently done for his people for 38 good years back to back right from 1986, without looking back even when he wasn’t in politics.
“It’s just that Orji Uzor Kalu has a human heart aside politics to make the lives of his constituents worth living that he has gone out of his way to reduce the pressure of the harsh economic situation in our country.
“Henceforth, we advise the agents of false information to cease from spreading rumours that the rice and cash shared by the former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu are constituency projects, rather they were given to the people out of the magnanimity and capacity of the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District from his personal pocket.
“When it’s time to share constituency projects, it will be announced to the public. Different stakeholders in Abia North will be well informed”, the statement added.
Elated local government and ward executives of the three groups who spoke on behalf of their members, commended Senator Kalu for his philanthropic gesture which they said has been non-political since its inception in I986 even before he joined party politics.
They specifically commended Kalu for the infrastructural projects like schools, road, and water boreholes he attracted, which they said littered all the 448 communities in Abia North.
They promised to remain committed to the lawmaker’s cause in order to benefit more.
While lauding Kalu for the Yuletide largesse, they said: “This year’s programme is coming at the right time considering the current economic realities.”
The Senator also extended his philanthropic tentacles to the police in Abia State, when he on January 10, donated four security vans to them.
In handing over keys of three of the Hilux vans to the state Commisioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, Kalu said that the Toyota Hilux vehicles he donated were funded from his pocket.
He urged the Nigerian Police Force in the benefiting divisions to utilize them in fighting crime and securing the lives and property of the people.
“The vans I donated were from my heart and personal pocket. They are meant to encourage police in the state to do their work.
“I’m not doing this as the Senator representing Abia North, but as Orji Uzor Kalu who want to encourage police in the state to perform well. I did similar donation to police formations in Aba, Abia South,” he said.
He was optimistic that the Nigerian Police and Igbere Vigilante group would now function optimally to fight crime with the availability of the patrol vehicles.
While appealing to Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in his quest to develop the country, Kalu identified crime, epileptic power supply, corruption, and economic challenges as Nigeria’s major headaches which he believed the president would tackle.
The Senator frowned at the high level of unpatriotism exhibited by some Nigerians who engage in the destruction of lives and public property, saying that those who engage in these vices are not helping the country.
The Senator recalled how he installed solar streetlights in parts of Abia North, but regretted that some of they were vandalized by hoodlums.
The former Abia State governor also urged the people of the area to develop their agricultural potential to uplift the Nigerian economy.
Kalu was of praises of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for being proactive in crime fighting and for appointing a man who knows the terrain of Abia well as Commisioner of Police.
Receiving the keys to the vans, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Onwuemelie, said that his men in the benefiting Area Commands and Division have no more excuse to give if they fail in their responsibility of securing the lives and property of the people.
Onwuemelie directed his officers in the state to collaborate with the local vigilante groups in information gathering and operations.
He thanked the Senator and Governor Alex Otti for supporting the Police and other security agencies in the state.
An APC NWC member, Donatus Nwankpa and others who spoke, commended Senator Kalu for his large heart and philantropy.
They said with what Kalu has done so far as a senator, he has raised the bar of representation at the National Assembly.
The patrol vans were donated to the Police Area Commands in Ohafia and Isiukwuato and the Igbere Police Division, while the Igbere Vigilante group also got a Hilux van.
Kalu’s humanitarian gesture caught the fancy of his constituents as expressed by the Abia State Chairman of OUK Movement, Ojisi Ogbaja, who was of praises of Kalu for sustaining development at the grassroots.
“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 (Kalu’s) 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”, he said.