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Tag: Kalu

  • Ikpeazu to pay Kalu’s pension

    Ikpeazu to pay Kalu’s pension

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed government agencies to begin the payment of pension to former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and former Deputy Governor Emeka Ananaba.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, said this followed Kalu’s and Ananaba’s letters, demanding their entitlements.

    Ananaba is allegedly being owed his entitlements after serving former Governor Theodore Orji; Kalu is owed from 2009 till date.

    The statement reads: “Kalu and Ananaba who served at different periods wrote in their capacity as former governor and deputy governo in lieu of their entitlements as contained in the Abia State Governor/Deputy Governor’s Pension Law 2001.

    “Governor Ikpeazu has directed relevant officials of the state to begin the process of verification of their entitlements as former elected officials of the state in accordance with relevant state and federal laws.

    “…Kalu’s demand letter, dated January 23,  was titled: “Re: My outstanding unpaid entitlements: Reminder”

    “Kalu was governor from 1999 to 2007.  He was paid all his entitlements by former Governor Orji, until 2009.

    “Orji and former Deputy Governor Enyinnaya Abaribe,  who are representing Abia Central and Abia South in the Senate, are not yet entitled to pension from the state and have not made demands for payment.”

  • Kalu: my pension has not been paid

    Kalu: my pension has not been paid

    Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has dissociated himself from a purported report that 108 ex-governors live off their states through pensions and entitlements.
    The former governor said since he left office, he has not received any entitlement or privileges from his successors, adding that as a non-serving government official, the Abia State government has withheld his pensions and entitlements, making him the only ex-governor in the 36 states that does not receive pension.
    Kalu, who was governor from 1999 to 2007, was fielding questions from reporters yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
    He recalled that as governor, it was one of his most important obligations to see that pensioners were paid timely. He said he left the state without owing any pensioner, adding that he left behind all government vehicles and other property.
    Kalu regretted that none of the privileges that accrue to former governors have been extended to him, not even the security attaché or vehicles.
    His words: “Since 2009, I have not received any pension or entitlement from the state government, but I took it in good faith. I have written to my successors, telling them of how they were flouting the laws by withholding my pensions, but it was ignored.
    “If it is out of will to disregard the law, I shall instruct my lawyers to take legal action against the governor for denying me my rights. If the present governor cannot resolve it, I will seek redress in the court. It doesn’t matter what I will be doing with the money. I can channel it into humanitarian service and philanthropy but the laws must be obeyed.”

  • Dogara, Kalu hail Buhari over ’s exit

    Dogara, Kalu hail Buhari over ’s exit

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu  Dogara yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for their role in averting a major political crisis in The Gambia.

    In a statement, Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs Turaki Hassan said Dogara hailed said President Buhari and his colleagues.

    ”The leaders have demonstrated their readiness and strong resolve to defend democracy on the continent.”

    Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu described as commendable  “the timely intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders”, which he described as “worth emulating”. “The era of undemocratic and uncivilized acts in Africa is over,” he said.

    The former governor, who spoke yesterday at his Abuja residence while hosting a cross-section of Gambian investors led by Mr. Edrissa Jobe, said:  ”At a time countries all over the world are committed to the rule of law, Africa cannot be left out in this noble cause.

    “The selfish ambition of an individual should not be allowed to draw a country backward.”

  • Ex-governor Kalu: we must mobilise at grassroots

    Former governor of Abia State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Orji Uzor Kalu has urged leaders of the party in the state to work hard at mobilising  grassroots residents to ensure that the party succeeds in the state.

    Orji who was addressing APC leaders and some of political associates at his Igbere country home also used the forum to woo some of his political associates and members of his former cabinets to join forces with the leadership of the party to move the state forward.

    The former governor who also apologised for choosing the immediate past governor of the state and senator representing Abia Central District, Chief Theodore Orji as his successor, alleging   that his successor ruined the state and left it worse than he met it.

    Kalu said contrary to the claims and belief that the Igbos will not be carried along in the party, APC remains the platform that will give Ndigbo the opportunity to be more relevant on the country’s political scene.

    Kalu stressed that the party would make impact and win more political seats in the state and southeast in subsequent elections only if leaders of the party garner support of the people at the grassroots.

    He also reiterated his support for the leadership of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration whose commitment to move the country forward and also place on the world map is total, even as he commended the anti-corruption standpoint of the president.

    He said, “Let me tell you this clearly, APC is not an 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 clearer in APC than in any other party including the PDP.

    “When we formed the PDP, some people were saying it was a 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.”

    Speakers at the event, including the chairman of the occasion, Senator Chris Adighije, former PDP chairman in the state, Chief Tony Ukasoanya, Obioma Acho, APC State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godson Benedict, and Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, Abia State Chairman of APC, among other political bigwigs in the state, said that the good thing that happened to the party is Kalu’s defection to the party.

    “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”, Nwankpa said, adding that the decision of Kalu and other “political big wigs” to join the party is a morale booster and a sign that the party has grown to becoming a force to reckon with as far as politics in the state and southeast is concerned.

    Nwankpa while assuring that party faithful in the state of all-inclusive leadership also called on Abians and indeed Nigerians to continue in their support for the President Buhari led administration, stressing that the President would justify the trust the people reposed in electing him in 2015 election.

    “Politics is local and for you to win elections, you need to have the grassroots support and ensure that the support is strong enough to match any force. You are all witnesses to what we passed through when we were campaigning for President Buhari in 2015. It was only few of us that believed in Buhari then. Today, we have seen that APC is waxing strong in Abia and Southeast, and in 2019, I can assure you that Abia will produce the governor of the state come 2019.”

     

  • Kalu celebrates New Year with the elderly

    Kalu celebrates New Year with the elderly

    Every year, the elderly in Igbere, the home town of the former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzo Kalu, have something to hope for. Either it is his celebrating Christmas with them or the New Year.

    May be because of his busy schedules, the business mogul could not celebrate Christmas with them; a situation that kept them guessing. They had been asking among themselves whether “our son had forgotten us?” But they never knew that something big was being planned for them in the New Year.

    So, when the news got the round that the former governor was planning to host some elderly people in his community, their ears wagged. Yes, the “rumour” became a reality.

    The former governor had resolved to host 100 elderly women from his community.

    Any wonder the elderly women ambled to the Camp Neya” at Umuizi Igbere venue of the event in an indescribable number.

    At 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6, women whose ages ranged from 60 and above arrived at the venue in their droves.

    As soon as the philanthropist, Dr. Kalu arrived at the venue, there was jubilation, with the women whose frames are fragile singing his praises.

    At 4:00 p.m., the atmosphere was already charged as the women who had returned from their farms and having completed other domestic chores sang melodiously to the admiration of people who came to witness the event.

    The women, numbering over 100 from “Ndi Oji Ogo”; the 13 villages that made up Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of the state were not invited to the “Camp Neya” for any political meeting, but to have a pleasurable and jovial moment with one of their illustrious sons (Kalu), who have been hosting the women at his country home for over 24 years.

    In this year’s celebration, Dr. Kalu wasn’t alone with the women; he was with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state led by its chairman, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa and his other political associates.

    While interacting with the women, Dr Kalu thanked them for finding time to come and also thanked God for keeping them alive. He promised that the exercise will continue to be a yearly event.

    Dr Kalu, who donated food items, drinks and cash to the women, said the celebration was part of his efforts to touch the lives of the aged in the society. He described old age as a blessing and grace that everyone prays to witness.

    The Abia business mogul didn’t stop at the food and cash donations; he used the opportunity to preach to the women about the APC, what the party would bring to bear if voted into power in the state in 2019. He also urged them to support President Buhari’s administration which he said was putting Nigeria on a good path.

    Kalu urged the women to take the message of change being preached by President Buhari to their friends and households even as he (Kalu) has strong belief that the country will come out of the current economic recession.

    He also debunked the claims that the APC is a Northern party, adding that “APC is that party that will give the Igbo the platform to produce the president that will succeed President Buhari at the expiration of his tenure in office.

    Responding, the leader of the women group, Mama Lydia Igbokwe, thanked Dr Kalu for his generosity over the years, even as she urged him not to relent in his good work.

  • Clark queries prosecution of Kalu, Ladoja

    Clark queries prosecution of Kalu, Ladoja

    Ijaw National Leader Chief Edwin Clark has criticised the reopening of corruption charges against two former governors with the exclusion of others having similar cases.
    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently reopened corruption charges against former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and his Oyo State counterpart, Chief Rasheed Ladoja.
    Clark wondered why only the two were on trial.
    In an open letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) yesterday, the elder statesman wondered why Kalu and Ladoja alone were being re-arraigned while other former governors and ministers, who he said faced varying money laundering charges, nine years ago, walked freely.
    Praising the crusade against corruption by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the Ijaw leader warned the leadership of anti-graft agencies to ensure there was no favouritism or nepotism in the fight against graft.
    He said no offender or suspect should be treated as “sacred cows”.
    Clark noted that the retrial of the duo might create the impression “that certain persons are untouchables, sacrosanct and above the law”.
    The Ijaw leader added that this may not go down well with the disposition of the current administration.
    He said: “Those heading the anti-graft agencies must be seen to be above board in the discharge of their duties by playing according to the rules. A situation whereby cases of corruption have been abandoned in the courts for years is unimaginable. Now that they want to reopen them, only very few of them seem to be selected for re-arraignment.
    “The EFCC, recently, rearraigned former governors Kalu of Abia State and Ladoja of Oyo State, before the courts for alleged fraud committed… It would be recalled that these former governors were charged to court at the same time with some of their colleagues who equally served as governors in their various states about nine years ago. Some of them are today distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with some of them having been in the Senate for eight years. This negates the principle of ‘unbiasedness’ and impartiality.”
    Recalling his past open letters, which called for the probe of some ex-government officials, Clark noted that while some had been tried and prosecuted, the cases of other were abandoned again.
    He said: “Between the times I addressed these open letters and now, some of the persons I mentioned in the letters have been prosecuted and some others freed. For instance, James Onanefe Ibori has been prosecuted and is almost finishing his jail term of 13 years in the United Kingdom (UK), while Femi Fani-Kayode has formally been tried and found not guilty. Michael Botmang died in January, 2014.
    “Also, since my open letters, some other former governors have been arraigned before the courts for similar offences, their cases abandoned again. They include Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State; Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of Imo State; Murtala Nyako, former Governor of Adamawa State; Danjuma Goje, former Governor of Gombe State, who today is a distinguished senator and Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriation; as well as Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State and his two sons. They have all been granted bail, with no further action.”

  • Court refuses to strike out money laundering charges against Kalu

    Court refuses to strike out money laundering charges against Kalu

    Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday refused to strike out the money laundering charge filed against former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Kalu along with Udeh Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited on 34 counts of diverting N3.2 billion Abia State funds.
    They were first re-arraigned on September 27 before Justice Anwuri Chikere of the court’s Abuja division after the case got to the Supreme Court on interlocutory appeal, following Kalu’s first arraignment in 2007.
    Trial was billed to resume yesterday before Justice Idris, but prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, got to court late.
    Defence counsel Prof Awah Kalu (SAN) and Solo Agumah (SAN), who got to court before Adebisi, urged the judge to strike out the case for lack of diligent prosecution.
    They said they came from Abuja for the case, adding that if EFCC was serious, the prosecution counsel ought to have been in court on time.
    Justice Idris said it was true that the defendants were re-arraigned on October 31, following which the case was adjourned to yesterday for trial.
    He condemned the prosecution’s absence.
    His words: “The defendants are here and they are represented by counsel, fully prepared for trial. The court is ready to proceed with the trial in line with the intent and spirit of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
    “The prosecution is absent, not represented by counsel, and there is no explanation whatsoever as to their absence in court this afternoon. This is unacceptable and highly detestable.
    “No reasonable excuse has been put forward for the non-appearance of the prosecution team. This is an unacceptable conduct and one that will not be condoned by this court.
    “This is a court of law and one of justice; such attitude towards the prosecution of cases, especially by the prosecution, will not be tolerated.
    “Having looked at the case, being a transferred matter and being the second time the matter would be mentioned in court, and the first time to be called for trial, I shall, in the circumstances and in the interest of justice, exercise my discretion pursuant to the provision of Section 351(2) and adjourn the matter for trial.
    “This will be the last of such adjournment in situations such as this. In the interest of justice, I shall direct a fresh date be taken for trial to commence.”
    As the judge was about to adjourn, the prosecution counsel walked in. He said he was held up in traffic having gone to fetch a prosecution witness, who eventually could not make it.
    Adebisi disagreed with the defence counsel’s demand that EFCC should notify them of any witnesses the prosecution intends to call.
    Kalu and Akuma said knowing which witness was coming to testify ahead would enable them prepare for their cross-examination in order to speed up the case rather than asking for an adjournment.
    But Adebisi rejected the request, saying: “There is need to protect the witnesses. How are we sure the witnesses will not be interfered with? This application has no precedent and no basis in law.”
    Justice Idris said he would not make any order that EFCC should formally notify the defence of witnesses it intends to call.
    “It should be informal between parties. I’ll encourage parties to communicate with each other and pass such information to ensure the trial goes on smoothly and speedily. We’re all practising law and there should be no bitterness,” he said.
    Kalu and his co-accused allegedly diverted about N3.2 billion from the Abia’s treasury while he was the governor.
    The former governor was said to have allegedly diverted the funds in tranches of N200 million, N50 million, N200 million, N300.8 million, N545 million, N429million, N288.4million, N190million, N157million, N152.8million, N100 million, N84 million and N50 million between August 13, 2003 and January 12, 2005.
    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 17 (c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2003 and punishable under Section 16 of the same Act.
    The EFCC accused Slok Nigeria Limited of conniving with one Emeka Abone, said to be at large, to help Kalu retain the allegedly stolen funds in its accounts.
    The prosecution said Slok “knew or at least suspected the said Orji Uzor Kalu to have engaged in a criminal conduct.”
    Udeogu was accused of helping Kalu to pay part of the allegedly stolen funds into Slok’s account with the defunct FinBank Plc.
    They were alleged to have utilised Manny Bank (now Fidelity Bank Plc), Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and FinBank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to divert the funds.
    Justice Idris adjourned to March 6 to 10 and April 10 to 13 next year for trial.

  • ‘Kalu’s move to APC in Igbo interest’

    ‘Kalu’s move to APC in Igbo interest’

    THE movement of former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, from the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is in the interest of Ndigbo, a former governorship candidate of the PPA, Chief Ndukwe Iko, has said. Iko in a chat with journalists in Lagos said he was also contemplating joining APC, but was yet to make up his mind, as he has to consult his followers before the move.

    He dismissed the rummour that Kalu joined the APC because he wanted to ensure that the corruption charges leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), were quashed. He said: “I don’t like speaking from sentiment.

    I’m a realistic person. Kalu didn’t leave PPA for the APC because of EFCC. If you know his character, you’ll know that he’s courageous and ready to face any challenge. Kalu has always desired to play politics at the centre and joining the APC will afford him this opportunity to serve as the voice of Igbo people. Igbo has had no voice since the demise of Ojukwu. This is the vacuum that Kalu is out to fill by joining the APC. He is more than qualified to play this role because he has been at the forefront of defending Ndigbo long ago.”

  • Can Kalu reverse APC’s fortunes in South-East ?

    Can Kalu reverse APC’s fortunes in South-East ?

    The likely impact of the defection of former governor Orji Uzor Kalu’s to All Progressives Congress (APC) is the subject of disagreement amongst politicians and other stakeholders, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) supporters are enthusiastic today that the recent defection of former governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State to the party will boost its fortunes not only in the state but across the South-East geo-political zone. The party’s critics and opponents however disagree, alleging that the former governor’s political influence has waned so much that his entrance may not make significant difference both in the state and in the entire South-East.

    When APC won the presidential election in 2015; dethroning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had held political power in Nigeria for over 16 years, South-East zone, more than any other, remained largely faithful to PDP, as the party won in three, out of the five states in the zone. Explaining the factors that accounted for PDP’s performance in the region then, informed analysts said besides the fact that PDP has largely governed all the states in the region since 1999, most of the political leaders in the zone are entrenched PDP members.

    For example, when APC wanted to form government at the centre in 2015, it was reported that it could not get a ranking senator or member of the House of Representatives from the zone to be elected either as the Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives, a political arrangement analysts argued was necessary for the needed balance in the national power sharing formula. It took the pairing of Kwara State’s Senator Bukola Saraki of APC and Enugu State’s Senator Ike Ekweremadu of PDP as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively to partially accommodate the zone at that level of governance.

    Since then however, there has been argument that South-East is yet to be adequately represented both in the ruling party and the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. This is notwithstanding the presence of political leaders like Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu from Ebonyi State and Senator Chris Ngige from Anambra State, among others. According to the sponsors of this argument, for the party to make the required impact in the South-East geo-political zone, the party would need to woo more influential and dynamic politicians from the region into its fold.

    It was on the basis of this thesis that Kalu’s defection to APC has generated so much interest both within the party and amongst other stakeholders.

    Great expectations

    Kalu’s tall promise at his reception into the party in Abuja has further heightened the expectations. The former Abia State Governor did not only promise the leaders of APC to deliver his state, he went further to pledge to “work assiduously to deliver the South-East to the APC.”

    APC leaders had set the stage for such tall promises. For example, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, while receiving Kalu, expressed so much hope on the benefits of his coming.

    As he puts it: “I am delighted to welcome you. Everybody worked zealously to join you because when the going gets tough, as it is today, in this nation, we will look for the kind of people with the attributes, resilience, courage and following who can contribute positively, from experience, to getting this nation out of the economic meltdown we inherited.

    “You fell into that definition. Secondly, the presence of the party must be maximal in all the zones of the country. Given the attachment of the South-East before now, it is also necessary to go for leaders that have deliverable, who can contribute positively and leaders people can listen to. Kalu fell squarely into that category.

    “You are not only going to help us in the South-East but also in the South-South, to turn this party around so that there will be balanced APC in every nook and cranny of this country.

    “Your coming is very significant and I thank God that it is not late. You have lots of work to do to consolidate our party.”

    His acceptance speech confirmed his pledge to APC leaders that he has what it takes to deliver the region to the party. As would be expected, this was not only instructive on the roles he would expectedly play in the coming days, it has also become a source of several speculations. He had said: “Let me thank my brothers in the NWC of this party for their efforts. Three of them have hosted me to dinner for more than 20 times while they were trying to dissuade me from going back to the PDP because they know that I am very close to Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    “In eating those dinners, the last of which was five days ago, to seal the deal, they were on my neck for a long time that I must come to the APC.

     “Today is a happy day and I want APC to be all-inclusive, regardless of our tribe, religion or special status. I want to thank the National Chairman for this opportunity to personally welcoming us.

    “I am coming in and God will help me to bring value to the party.

    “Between Sunday, November 13, 2016 when I registered at Igbere and now, there are 4, 000 members, new members already registered with the APC in Abia. Without making it open, there are two members of the House of Representatives who are there right now to join the APC. “So, it is work that we must carry to a logical conclusion.

    “Our upright war is that the South East will be delivered to the APC. God will help us to do this. The most important thing is the ability to consult, discuss and move forward. Nobody is an embodiment of knowledge. Knowledge is in the hands of God and God will always give us knowledge.”

    He added: “You were here the day my mother and brothers came here and all my friends are here in this party. I am not saying that my friends are not in the other parties. But, it is time to take stock and it is important to go along family line to be able to rebrand Nigeria very well. I am back to join where my family is.

    “If I had joined at the early times when they were forming government, it would have appeared as if I want to be part of that process. This is the right time to join. This is the right time to do politics and so, I believe I am joining at the right time, to be able to do raw politics with them.”

    How far can he go?

    Considering his political stature as a former state governor, who has remained very active in the nation’s political theatre since 1999, Kalu’s supporters say he is the big masquerade that will help deliver the state and the zone to APC. His closest political associates like the former Osun State governor and chieftain of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, (PPA), Dr Sam Nkire, his younger brother, Mascot Kalu, among others, who accompanied him to the secretariat, could not hide their joy.

    Other important Abia stakeholders that have openly expressed support for Orji’s move included former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu.

    The renowned economist said the move by Kalu “was in strategic synch with broader Igbo long term objectives to reject Igbo irrelevance that many were assigning to Ndigbo in spite of the zone’s continued dominance in other national demographics.”

    Explaining why he supported the move, the former minister urged other politicians “to take a cue from Uzor Kalu, and at the minimum, seek a merger to belong to the future of power sharing in viable political parties that are truly alternative power blocs in Nigeria.”

    He said: “It is my opinion that Orji Uzor Kalu’s joining of APC is based on the strategic political interest of Ndigbo, an indisputable part of the tripod that holds together Nigeria’s political firmament.

    “Let’s organise for our numbers and implicit strength to count maximally. Let’s play smart politics and reserve emotions for our essentially non-political conclaves.

    “For long, we have side-stepped this rightful position by ending up, inadvertently, adopting a minority posture in Nigerian politics to the dismay of our people and many of our neighbours and other Nigerians who remember the great legacy of our past heroes in the struggle for Nigerian and African independence.

    “When APGA was established, we the foundation members set out, dissatisfied with the way the new PDP was evolving, to create an alternative national party. These moves are without prejudice to the continuous struggle to have a more perfect federal union. As long as we are still part and parcel of this imperfect union, Ndigbo cannot continue to perch in a corner to ask for this or that. We must come squarely back to the high table where the major decisions are taken.

    “Igbo is too big, too critically strategic to play in the sidelines. We must re-enter the main bowl of political contestation from viable national parties. We should play a positive role to evolve a strong two alternative party framework that helps to promote a healthy and even playing field that suits Igbo temperament and predilections from our history. Let’s play smart politics for a change,” he said.

    Cueing into this vision, APC chieftains in the state have boasted that Kalu’s coming will turn the fortunes of the party around for good in the zone.

    APC chairman in Abia State, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa, is one of such stakeholders. He said “Kalu is an asset to the party in the state, the southeast and the country as a whole. I am sure that he (Kalu) will use his wealth of experience in politics to grow the party in the state. It is one of the landmark achievements of the leadership of the APC. We all are looking forward to work harmoniously with him.

    “The defection of Kalu and other political bigwigs into the party in the state and other parts of the southeast is a clear indication that the party is growing in strength and in numbers in the region. You guys are aware that those of us who saw where the party was going joined the party and suffered a lot of persecution, especially in the southeast during the last electioneering period in the country that produced then presidential candidate of the party, Muhammadu Buhari, as we tried to convince the electorate of what he (Buhari) can offer. Buhari, you all can remember was denied access to use public facilities in Abia State. The campaign wouldn’t have held if not a late move to secure the Etche road field where he managed to use to do his campaign.

    “Today, we are witnesses to the number of bigwigs in Abia, southeast and the country as a whole that have joined the party. It shows that we are becoming formidable and remains a party to beat in 2019 general election. I want to assure you that more aggrieved personalities are going to join the party from their former parties and we have enough space to accommodate them. I am sure that very soon, Kalu, being a grassroots politician, will come to formalise his membership at the ward, LG and state levels respectively.”

    Chief Fredrick Ukoma, a retired civil servant in Abia State however thinks otherwise. He told The Nation: “I think people are over rating the current popularity of the former governor. If he is still that popular even in his Abia North Senatorial District, I believe he would not have lost the last senatorial election, no matter what happened. I agree he is a dynamic politician, well loaded in terms of cash, but that is not all there is to the issue of improving the fortunes of APC in the state and in the South-East zone. Nobody will deny the fact that Kalu is a big fish for APC; but we must not forget that he also has many powerful political enemies, coupled with baggages that none of us can deny. Already, his political rivals have alleged that he opted to join APC in a bid to escape his corruption charges with the EFCC. These are the issues that may limit his impact in the zone, I think.”

    But the former governor has dismissed insinuations that he joined APC to truncate his ongoing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). He insisted that his decision was in line with family demands of him.

    Kalu was one of the founding fathers of the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) at its formation. He emerged the governor of Abia State on the ticket of the party. Following prolonged political battles with the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, also of PDP, Kalu later founded the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). On the platform of this party he governed the state and later produced his successor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, who is now a serving senator.

    Given the controversies that surround Kalu as a person and the big political battles he has fought over the years, observers agree his entrance to APC will most certainly change the political scene in Abia State and the South-East. How far such impact will go however remains to be seen.

  • Kalu’ll be asset to APC, says Okorocha

    Kalu’ll be asset to APC, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said the defection of former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a good development for the party and the Southeast.
    But the governor regretted that although he had been persuading the Igbo, especially the political leaders in the zone to join APC, he was blackmailed and called names.
    He said current events in the country had exonerated him and shown that he was not just wasting his time.
    Okorocha noted that with the likes of Kalu in the APC, the development of Igbo land under the party would be easier.
    He said: “Orji Kalu as an illustrious Igbo son is a political asset any political party would like to have in its fold.”
    The governor urged other frontline politicians in the Southeast to follow the Kalu’s example.
    He expressed delight that Igbo political leaders had begun to respond positively to his clarion call to join APC “where the action is taking place now and will continue to take place with good leadership which the party is determined to offer Nigerians”.
    Okorocha said there were no old members and new members in APC because all the members were equal in their membership.
    The governor pledged to always work with Igbo leaders in APC in the overall interest of the zone and its people.
    He congratulated Orji for joining the APC and advised him to see those attacking him as people who needed to be educated.