Former Abia State governor and eminent businessman, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged his political associates to join the All Progressives Congress Party, APC, to ensure that the party wins the 2019 general elections, not only in Abia State, but the entire- South East, in general.
Kalu, who was governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007, made the call yesterday, at his Igbere country home, while addressing some political office holders who served in his administration.
At the meeting, which venue was filled to capacity, the former governor noted that APC remained the only political that would cater for the plight of Ndigbo.
Among prominent politicians in the State, who attended the meeting were: Senators Bob Nwanunu and Chris Adighije, who was the chairman at the meeting.
Others were: Chief Tony Ukasanya, former PDP state chairman; Chief Sam Nkire, APC BoT member; Donatus Nwamkpa, APC state chairman; Benedict Godson, APC state publicity secretary; Ralph Egbu, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG); Mascot Uzor Kalu, former chief of staff to Abia governor; Obioma Acho (Chomen); Madukwe Ukaegbu, former deputy chief of staff to the deputy governor; Princewell Ike Ukegbu, president general Ibeku Ekwuasa development union, Umuahia; Nnamdi Irom kalu (Oputaoyom); Uche Akwukwaegbu (BAWAS), traditional Prime Minister, Ibeku ancient kingdom and K.C Ugboaja.
Kalu, who equally used the well attended meeting to inform the people that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), was today in disarray due to high level of impunity and imposition, stated that APC would not make the same mistake, the PDP made, just as he seized the occasion to debunk insinuation in some quarters that the APC was Hausa party, saying, it was an orchestrated propaganda used by the PDP in the 2015 general elections to deceive Ndigbo.
He stressed that there was a better chance of an Igbo man becoming the President of Nigeria on the platform of the APC, than any other party.
“Let me tell you this clearly, APC is not Hausa party as they have been deceiving the people. APC is not owned by President Muhammadu Buhari; the possibility of an Igbo man becoming the President of this country is brighter in the APC than in any other party including the PDP.
“When we formed the PDP, some people were saying it was Hausa party as they are saying of APC now, but it was the same PDP that produced former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan who are Southerners,” the ex-Abia governor, added.
To this end, he called on all his political associates, to join APC and work in their various political wards, to make the party thick in the State, in order to win all the seats in the 2019 general elections.
Senator Adighije, who chaired the meeting, expressed happiness that those who made Abia politics thick had now come together, under APC, stressing that, as far as Abia politics was concerned, T.A Orji and the PDP in the State were “dead and buried”.
Chief Donatus Nwamkpa, State chairman of APC, on his part, described Kalu as the father of Abia modern politics, saying there was no politician in or outside the government in Abia today that did not benefit one way or the other from Kalu’s political movement.
“Kalu is an institution, the Field Marshal of Abia politics who we believe will contribute immensely to the growth of APC in not only Abia State, but the South East in general”.
Highlight of the event, was a solidarity visit by a great number of broom-carrying youths from various parts of the State, to the venue of the meeting, who said they have joined the APC from other parties because of Kalu.
…Mobilises support for Party in Abia State
Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu has called on Abians to embrace the wind of change by joining the All Progressives Congress APC.
He said that the South- East has a lot to gain from integrating into the mainstream of the country’s politics.
According to the former Abia governor, it was important for stakeholders to come together under the people’s party, APC, for the sake of progress and development of Abia State, noting that the use of Abia State government machinery to circumvent the law would longer be tolerated.
Kalu made these known yesterday, at a meeting with former political appointees during his regime as governor, at his Igbere country home, Abia State.
He said, “It is encouraging to see the large turnout of people at this meeting, which I want to see as a gathering of family members.
“We are all stakeholders in the Abia project and as such, we must sit down regularly under one roof to exchange ideas in a bid to correct the anomalies in our home State.
“Having been a philanthropist before venturing into politics, I gave my best to serve the people, during my tenure, as governor. Even though, some people challenge me for installing Chief T. A Orji as governor, I made it clear that having served as my chief of staff for eight years, I believed T. A Orji was the best person for the job, not knowing that he would betray the trust of the people.
“However, I apologise to Abians for mistakenly mobilizing support and ensuring victory for T. A Orji in the 2007 governorship election.
“I decided to host this meeting to also formally inform my former colleagues and staff that, I resolved to join the APC in the interest of Abia State and Nigeria at large. I would like to again appeal to Nigerians in spite of the economic challenges facing the country, to have faith in the current federal administration.
“ As a nationalist, I believe in the indivisibility of Nigeria and I wish to admonish all and sundry to see the heterogeneous nature of the country as an advantage and not allow selfish politicians cause religious, political and ethnic crises in Nigeria”, he declared.
While appealing to Abians to register as members of the APC in their respective wards, Kalu assured them of a level-playing field in party activities.
Earlier in his remarks, the state APC Chairman, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, described Kalu as a big asset to the party, noting that since he was admitted into the APC, the former governor has been making relentless efforts in strengthening membership of the party, beyond Abia State, adding that the national secretariat of the APC will formally decide on a date to hold a mega rally in honour of Kalu.
