By Ogochukwu Isioma
Former Governor of Abia State and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia North Senatorial election, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on the people of the state to reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates in the 2019 general elections, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV gathered that Dr. Kalu made this call on Tuesday during a town hall meeting with the people of Urban Ward II, Umuahia North local government area of Abia State.
He said despite having limited resources as governor, none of his successors have surpassed his achievements in office.
He accused his successor, T. A. Orji of having nothing to show as achievement despite eightfold increase in the amount he received as federal allocations for eight years, and called on the people of Abia Central zone to vote him out as Senator, and elect Dr. Nkechi of the APC in the February 16 polls for meaningful growth and development in the zone.
He said: “When I was governor, we never owed salaries nor pension. We implemented free education, and paid bursaries to both indigene and non-indigene of Abia State University (ABSU).We attracted meaningful development to the state, including roads, stadium, amongst others.
“But today, reverse is the case. Salaries are being owed teachers, health workers. ABSU tuition fee is on the high side. Pensioners are not being paid. We only hear about their achievements on radio. No good road, no electricity. Most of the roads today are what we did in eight years between 1999-2007 I was governor.
“We did all these with partly N100bn received during my eight years in office. T. A. Orji received over N895bn and has nothing to show for it.”
Dr. Kalu, while speaking further, alleged that the current governor Okezie Ikpeazu has accrued over N101bn debt despite receiving same amount T. A. Orji received for eight years in just three and a half years in office.
He therefore called on the people of the state to reject Ikpeazu as governor in the March 2 governorship election and elect the APC candidate, Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, to attract all round development including free education in the state.
“Governor Ikpeazu is currently owing over N101bn debt, despite having received over N695bn as federal allocation in just three and a half years in office.
“The Buhari-led administration gave this state bailout funds including Paris Club refund many times. Yet, Ikpeazu squandered it and could not implement it for what it was meant for. We don’t know how they manage to sleep when workers and pensioners are not being paid.
“We must put all these to stop in February 16 and March 2. We must reject all candidates of the PDP with our votes, and elect all candidates of the APC for all round development in the state, and Nigeria at large.
“Dr. Uche Ogah is coming to liberate Abia, we must therefore show solidarity and support by voting massively for him come March 2,” he said.
Igbere TV reports that the former Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu was in the zone in solidarity with the APC Candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency in the February 16 National Assembly election, Hon. Martin Ikechukwu Apugo.
