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Tag: Orji Kalu

  • UNN convocation: I’ve been rewarding best-graduating students since 2014 – Orji Kalu

    UNN convocation: I’ve been rewarding best-graduating students since 2014 – Orji Kalu

    Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu says he has been rewarding the best-graduating students from the University of Nigeria (UNN) since 2014 through Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation.

    The lawmaker disclosed this in a post on his verified Facebook page on Friday morning, while congratulating the benefiting students for the 52nd convocation ceremony of the elite university.

    While congratulating the beneficiaries, Kalu noted that education remains the best legacy for all, saying: “In 2014 at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation instituted three categories of awards for the best-graduating students. This action was solely to encourage academic performance and seriousness among the students. While redeeming the pledges for this year’s winners at the 52nd convocation ceremony of the prestigious University last night, I was impressed with the CGPA of the winners.

    Read Also; Don’t leave host community in ruins, Tinubu warns lithium investors

    “The overall best-graduating student in the entire university-Ejiofor Chizoba Victor; a student of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science graduated with a 4.93 CGPA.

    “The best-graduating student in the Faculty of Social Sciences -Ugwoke  Cornelius  Chinemeogo, a student of the Economics Department graduated with a CGPA  of 4.81. It’s a double win for him!

    “Congratulations to the brilliant and intelligent students. Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation believes that educational support is one of the best legacy to give to every child.”

  • Alleged N7.1b fraud: Fed Govt loses bid to reopen trial of Orji Kalu, Slok

    Alleged N7.1b fraud: Fed Govt loses bid to reopen trial of Orji Kalu, Slok

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out two appeals filed by the Federal Government against a September 29, 2021 order of a Federal High Court barring it from reopening the trial of former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu and his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, for money laundering charges.

    In the two judgments delivered yesterday, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the Federal Government’s appeals were defective.

    Justice Joseph Oyewole, who authored and read the lead judgments in both appeals, upheld the objection raised by Kalu (now a serving senator) and Slok.

    The court found that the records of appeal in both cases were not properly compiled and certified, as required under Court of Appeal’s Rules and Section 104 of the Evidence Act.

    It held that even if the breach of the court’s rule was to be overlooked, the court could not close its eyes to the non-compliance with the mandatory provision of the Evidence Act.

    A defect the court painted out in the record of appeal was that the official of the trial court who certified the records did not indicate his/her designation, as required by the Evidence Act.

    The Federal Government’s lawyer Oluwaleke Atolagbe said, in view of the court’s decision, the appellant would promptly re-file new appeals to enable the appellate court deal with the substance of the case.

    The appeals were against the September 29, 2021 judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja prohibiting the Federal Government from further prosecuting Kalu and Slok.

    This followed an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court voiding the proceedings leading to their earlier trial and conviction.

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    Kalu was charged and tried with Slok and a former Account Director in Abia State Government House, Ude Jones Udeogu, for their alleged complicity in diverting the N7.1 billion from Abia State’s coffers.

    The three were convicted and, while Kalu and Udeogu were sentenced to 12 and 10 years imprisonment, Slok was wound up.

    But, upon an appeal by Udeogu, the Supreme Court, in a judgment on May 8, 2020, set aside their trial and conviction on the grounds that the trial judge, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal, ought not to have continued to hear the case.

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court strikes out FG’s appeal against order stopping Orji Kalu, Slok money laundering trial

    BREAKING: Appeal Court strikes out FG’s appeal against order stopping Orji Kalu, Slok money laundering trial

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out an appeal by the Federal Government against an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja prohibiting it from reopening the trial of former Abia Governor, Orji Kalu and his firm, Slok Nigeria Ltd on money laundering charges.

    In two judgments on Wednesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the two appeals filed by the Federal Government were incompetent.

    Justice Joseph Oyewole, who authored and read the lead judgments in both appeals, upheld the objection raised by Kalu (now a serving Senator) and Slok.

    Read Also: Orji Kalu lauds Tinubu’s approach to fighting insecurity

    The court found that the records of appeal in both cases were not properly compiled and certified as required under Court of Appeal’s Rules and Section 104 of the Evidence Act.

    It held that even if the breach of the court’s rule was to be overlooked, the court cannot close its eyes to the non-compliance with the mandatory provision of the Evidence Act.

    The court noted that the official of the trial court, who certified the records did not indicate his/her designation as required by the Evidence Act.

    Lawyer to the Fed Govt, Oluwaleke Atolagbe said, with the court’s decision, the appellant will refile new appeals to enable the appellate court deal with the substance of the case.

    The appeals were against the September 29, 2021 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja prohibiting the Fed Govt from further prosecuting Kalu and Slok following an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court voiding the proceedings leading to their earlier trial and conviction.

    Details shortly…

  • Orji Kalu lauds Tinubu’s approach to fighting insecurity

    Orji Kalu lauds Tinubu’s approach to fighting insecurity

    The immediate past Senate Chief Whip and lawmaker representing Abia North senatorial district, Orji Uzor Kalu, has commended the efforts of President Bola Tinubu in tackling insecurity in various parts of the country.

    Addressing the gathering at his residence in Igbere, Bende local government area of Abia state, Kalu, the ex-governor of Abia state, emphasized the critical role of security.

    He handed over four patrol vehicles to both the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Igbere Vigilante Service.

    Kalu noted that without addressing the issue of insecurity, meaningful development at the local, state, and federal government levels would be challenging to achieve.

    The Senator stated that, under President Tinubu, Nigeria has made progress in containing insurgent activities.

    However, he emphasized that no matter how much money is allocated to security in the budget, addressing insecurity requires the collective efforts of all Nigerians.

    He said: “President Tinubu is having sleepless nights in the fight against crime and seeking ways to lift the economy of the country. Nigerians are suffering, but it is not the cause of this administration. We should collectively come together to fight crime and insecurity in the country.

    “We must support President Tinubu. People should bring out their hearts to work for the country. President Tinubu should put his feet on the ground to openly fight corruption, electricity and crime if Nigeria must work.

     “I want to thank the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the supplementary budget that he gave us to pass a few days ago and 90 percent of that budget was for security.

    “I am pleading with our society, that they should shun crime so that we can use the money budgeted for security to put in electricity, roads and among others, for people to move around.

    Read Also: Appeal Court upholds Orji Kalu’s election

    “The beauty of constitutional democracy is the time limit. President Buhari is no longer here today, President Tinubu has taken over. People who are damaging our infrastructure thinking that it is owned by President Tinubu should know that President Tinubu is just a trustee holding the country for all of us.”

    Kalu clarified that the provision of security patrol vehicles was not part of a constituency project but rather a demonstration of his backing for the police and vigilantes in their endeavours to combat crime in the state.

    He praised the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, for assigning experienced police personnel to the state.

    Kalu highlighted that, for the first time in the past eight years, the state experienced a peaceful Christmas and festive celebration in the previous December.

    He noted: “This is purely from my heart because I felt that there was a need to support the local, state, and federal government in their fight against crime and criminality in the local government, the state and the nation at large. Crime is what nobody would want to be battling or faced with.

    “I want to encourage the commissioner of Police and his team in their desire to ensure that Abia is safe for visitors and residents.

    “I want to thank the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for posting the CP and his team to the state and for the effective posting that he has been doing since he took over as the IGP.

    “This is the first time that Abia has a team of police officers that know the state very well, which is why we can say that the last Christmas was one of the best Christmas that we have had in the state in the last 8 years.

    “Supporting the police is not because we have so much money to do it. It is because the mandate to give one vehicle to the DPO Igbere, Area Commander Ohafia and one to the Area Commander in Isuikwuato is to support them so that they can help in combating crime in the state.

    “As long as we live and have more resources available, we will be able to support other commands in other parts of the state.

    “The importance of a secure environment cannot be overemphasized. Our people should shun violence and see the need to be more resourceful for themselves, their families and the country at large.

    “I will appreciate that other well-meaning Abians will join the state government in supporting the security agencies in the state because the resources being given to the security agencies is not enough and can never be enough; I am saying this because in the Senate and I sit in most committees that interact with several security agencies in the country.”

    The Abia North senator, who expressed fears over the impending food scarcity in the land, called on the traditional rulers in the state to encourage their subjects to embrace farming as a tool to address food insecurity.

    He added: “Our people should embrace farming because there is a need for our people to address the rising food insecurity in the land. Our youths should stop idling about, but rather think of how to become more resourceful.”

    In his reaction, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie who received the vehicles Kalu and presented same to the Igbere Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ohafia Area Command and Isuikwuato Command respectively promised that the vehicles would be put into good use.

    According to CP Onwuemelie, the donation of the vehicles calls for more hard work from the respective beneficiaries within their Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

  • Orji Kalu will get justice at Appeal Court, says group

    Orji Kalu will get justice at Appeal Court, says group

    A political pressure group known as North East Elders and Youths Peoples Forum (NEEPYF) has expressed optimism that the former governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Kalu would emerge victorious in the case against him at the Court of Appeal.

    The chairman of the group, Salihu Magaji stated this on Tuesday, October 17, in Bauchi

    He said allegations made by Elisha Abbo who represented Adamawa North that the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was behind the ruling of the Appeal Court which terminated his tenure abruptly in the Senate on Monday, October 16, would not affect Kalu’s case.

    Nation reports that Abbo also alleged that four other senators have been pencilled down for similar removal through judgment from the Court of Appeal indicating that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) is the next target of the planned ‘coup’ against five senators from the Senate by its leadership.

    Addressing reporters at a press conference, Magaji said: “Our attention was drawn to the allegations made by our brother, Senator Elisha Abbo who represented Adamawa North that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was behind the ruling of the Appeal Court which terminated his tenure abruptly in the Senate yesterday (Monday).”

    Read Also: Court sacks Adamawa North APC Senator Abbo

    He added: “He also said that four other Senators have been pencilled down for similar removal through judgment from the Court of Appeal. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC Abia North) was the next target of the planned ‘coup’ against Five Senators from the Senate by its leadership. The sin of the other Four Senators was that they opposed the emergence of the leadership of the 10th Senate in June.”

    “Nigerians are watching, and all of us are watching and we expect nothing from the Appeal Court except justice and fairness, and with justice and fairness, Orji Kalu will win as he won at the lower Tribunal.”

     “The essence of democracy lies not only in our ability to vote but also in our capacity to defend the integrity of that vote, as we remain confident of getting substantial justice at the appellate courts.”

  • Abia stakeholders hail tribunal validation of Orji Kalu’s victory, ask PDP, LP to accept verdict

    Abia stakeholders hail tribunal validation of Orji Kalu’s victory, ask PDP, LP to accept verdict

    Prominent leaders from Abia State have commended Tuesday’s judgment of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal that validated the victory of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as the lawmaker representing Abia North. 

    The stakeholders described the verdict as thorough, stressing that it addressed all the issues raised by the petitioners.

    According to a renowned security consultant and lawyer, Dr. Ody Ajike, the judgment was a true reflection of the mandate the people of Abia North Senatorial District delivered at the last National Assembly election.

    He urged the senatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Nnamdi Iro Orji, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Mao Ohuabunwa, to cooperate with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in its effort to address the myriad of challenges facing the District.

    He said: “The judgment is a valuable, well deserved and rewarding development in the politics of Abia North Senatorial Zone. As we all know, Judicial decisions as regards political competition will always produce competing interests that are usually resolved through consensus and compromise. This judgment is one that will further unite Abia North under Senator Orji Kalu’s primal leadership. I plead with the other candidates  to join forces with Senator Kalu for the promotion of peace and stability in our senatorial zone. 

    “Senator Orji Kalu has brought a new meaning of development to Abia North by fostering profound changes and transformational developments that are paradigmatic. Senator Kalu is deliberately promoting stability and democracy within the senatorial Zone by restoring political trust, encouraging political participation in new ways, building new mechanisms of effective people oriented governance and enhancing collaboration with the people. He has provided every area within the zone with a slew of non excludable public goods and social investments in health, education, public infrastructure and maximal incentives that promote economic growth.

    The Abia State Chairman of Reality Organisation, Barr. Peter Ndukwe expressed excitement, noting that the decision of the tribunal has kept hope alive for the people of Abia North.  

    “The unanimous judgement of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State upholding and validating the re-election of distinguished Senator Dr Orji Uzor Kalu is infallible and unimpeachable as it represents the true picture and sacrosanct position of the law. 

    “In fact the judgment which I firmly believe will be upheld and sustained if appealed by the aggrieved parties, will  greatly enrich our electoral jurisprudence and case law. Virtually all issues raised or and canvassed in both the petition of PDP and Labour party were not germane but trivial,  frivolous and could not be proven or established by hard facts and law. 

    “My candid opinion and advice to Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Chief Nnamdi Iro Orji and their respective political parties (PDP and Labour) is for them to sheath their appellate swords and congratulate His Excellency and distinguished Senator Dr Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) for a well deserved victory.

    “I am excited, elated and fascinated by the well reasoned, researched and erudite delivery of the aforesaid judgement by the respected judges. The said judgement has kept hope alive for Ndi Abia North, Abia State and Nigeria. Enough of the distractions so that OUK can continue with his massive infrastructural developments and legacy projects for Abia North Senatorial district. Thumb up for the National Assembly Election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia. Congratulations to the great OUK.”

    The Abia State Chairman of Abia’s largest socio-political group, OUK Movement, Hon. Ojisi Iro Ogbaja said: “The decision of the erudite judges was a thorough one that ensures that the wish of the people prevails. The masses applaud the judgment as a victory for democracy to the working Senator — and we appeal to those opposing him to allow Abia North to work.”

    Chairman of Association of Nze, Ozo and Chiefs (ANOC) USA, Chief Sunday Okoro, applauded the ruling of the tribunal, saying: “Congratulations to Honorable Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on your great victory at the tribunal. I already knew he was going to win the tribunal matter; because, his winning during the election was a clear victory. The tribunal case was only to fulfill the due process of law. Once again, a big congratulations to him!”

    A legal practitioner from Ohafia Local Government Area, Barr. Mbila Ayi said: “A well deserved winning on account of senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s zeal and keeness in delivering the dividends of democracy to Abia North indegenes.The judgement indeed reflects the people’s mandate in Abia North.”

    Engr. Emma Nwosu, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ohafia Local Government Area, described the victory as “well deserved”, saying:

    “It is indeed the Lord’s doing and victory for his entire constituents of Abia North Senatorial Zone, who have enjoyed effective and quality representation over the years from him.

    We pray that the great God who has brought this victory will sustain it to the end and to the glory of His name.”

    Also, a political leader from Nkporo clan and House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ohafia North State Constituency, Hon. Robinson Otuwe Kalu said: “I felt so happy when I heard the good news. I give God all the glory. I give kudos to the judges. It shows we still have hope for the judiciary.Congratulations to my mentor, Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.”

    Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Bende Local Government Area in Abia State, Hon Ulu Onwuchekwa, while reacting to the judgement, described the court’s verdict as true affirmation of overwhelming supports and votes given to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu by people during the just-concluded poll in Abua north and all other parts of Abia state, in order to continue with his effective representation at the senate for another four years..

    According to him, “the effective and efficient representation displayed by the federal lawmaker had engendered the buildings of socio- economic and Infrastructural projects in most parts of Abia north zone which are visible for the world to see. 

    “Based on this purposeful leadership cum representation, people of this senatorial zone decided again that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu should continue to represent us at the senate. And this honorable tribunal in its wisdom in line with the 2022 electoral act as amended, and constitution of the land”.

    The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia on Tuesday upheld the victory of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu representing Abia North Senatorial zone in the February 25, 2023 polls.

    A three man panel led by Justice Samson Paul-Gang in its unanimous ruling on Tuesday, September 12, dismissed the petition of Peoples Democratic Party’s Mao Ohuabunwa and Labour Party’s Nnamdi Iro Orji for lacking merit.

    The court, while upholding the victory of Kalu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that the election of the former Senate Chief Whip compiled with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    The tribunal judges also faulted the arguments of both petitioners that election did not hold in over 120 polling units mainly in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Areas of the zone.

    Nnamdi Iro and Ohuabunwa who came second and third respectively, Labour Party, in separate suits had asked the court to overturn the election of the former Abia Governor as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, alleging irregularities.

    Also thrown out was the petition of the PDP and LP was the argument that the  total number of registered voters in the said affected polling units was far above the margin of win between Kalu and the first and second runners-up.

    Read Also: Orji Kalu to NLC: be patient with Tinubu

    The court also validated Kalu’s eligibility to contest the election stating that his trial and conviction was quashed by the supreme court.

    Two other matters filed by the LP challenging Kalu’s election were also interpreted and laid to rest by the Tribunal judges and thus declared Kalu the duly elected Senator of Abia North.

    Kalu, a chieftain of the APC was declared winner by the INEC returning Officer for Abia North, Mr Chinedu Nnamdi at Ohafia.

    Kalu, a two time lawmaker who chairs Senate committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, was declared winner by INEC of the February 25, 2023 Senatorial polls having scored 30,805 votes to defeat Nnamdi who got 27,540 votes.

    While Kalu’s other opponent, Ohuabunwa of the PDP scored 15,175 votes to place third.

  • Orji Kalu and Ruga controversy

    As the debates on the necessity, or otherwise, of establishing Ruga settlements across the country continue, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North and the Chief Whip of the Senate, has joined the fray. He revealed that as the then governor of Abia State, he provided land and basic amenities for the herders, first at Umuahia, before relocating them to where they presently occupy, near Lokpanta, Abia State.

    On that basis, he boasted that he was the first to establish Ruga settlement in the Southeast, and that it created no problem. He eulogized cattle herding as a profitable venture, which most ‘big men’ beyond Fulani extraction, are into. He therefore saw nothing wrong in implementing the Ruga vexed issue, which lately accentuated the national fault lines in an unprecedented manner.

    For me, as an indigene of the LGA where he relocated the cattle market and a former boss of the Local Government Council, I take serious exception to Senator Kalu’s insensitive self-promotional build-up. His speech did not capture the mood of our people, and therefore is out of touch with the smouldering tension occasioned by the uncontrolled movement of cattle in all the nooks and cranny of the area.

    It is pertinent to note that what we had in Gariki (where Abia Mall is presently located) in Umuahia was not a Ruga settlement.  It was a cattle market, which existed before the creation of Abia State in 1991. The then Military Administrator, Col. Ike Nwosu moved it out of the city centre to the suburb of the state capital. So, it was not Kalu that moved the cattle market from Gariki. After a brief stay at Umuahia suburb, the cattle market was later moved down to Okigwe, Imo State, along the Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway.

    By the way, the template for a Ruga settlement as proposed by the federal government transcends an ordinary cattle market. When the cattle market constituted nuisance to Okigwe environs, and bred unresolved issues with the Imo State government, Kalu exploited his incumbency influence and relocated them to a large expanse of land customarily owned by some communities of Lokpaukwu, Lekwesi and Umuelem Isuochi along the Umunneochi LGA stretch of Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway. And because it is close to the popular Better Life Rural Market Lokpanta, the cattle market erroneously bears its location as Lokpanta. This happened in 2004, and the hapless and emasculated landowners acquiesced for fear of incurring the wrath of Kalu-led government. Today, the entire area hosting the cattle market is a sorry sight.

    A trip to the cattle market depicts arguably, the worst level of humanitarian devastation in the whole Southeast.   It is tantamount to Thomas Hobbes state of nature where life of man is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”. The area is a ghetto. It is chaotic, lawless, insecure, disorderly, despicable and full of gigantic tonnes of filth. The disgusting odour that oozes out from the area is indescribably unhealthy. A few years back, a cholera outbreak in the area as a result of open human and animal defecations along the streams led to the death of several persons. No sane government should allow her valued citizenry to be quartered there. It is that bad! The dual sections of the road are impassable. Heavy trucks are disingenuously parked along the road with reckless abandon. During rainy reason, collapsed vehicles on top of death-trap potholes used to cause long stretch of traffic jam for hours.

    For commuters who ply the route, the horrible experiences are comparable to a camel passing through an eye of a needle. People are daily subjected to anguish and human-made frustrations. The locals who are largely sedentary farmers bear the brunt of mindless plundering of farm crops, as a result of open and unrestricted grazing. The common cases of rape and sexual violence against under-aged girls and women in their farms with accusing fingers on herdsmen, who take off from the cattle market, are under-reported.

    The hitherto sleepy communities are now enveloped with palpable fear. The menacingly swagger and bravado of the trigger-happy herdsmen who trample on farms with impunity in Umuchieze axis turned it to a slave camp. Except for the military checkpoints at Lomara Junction and Mbato/Leru border, the incessant armed robbery attacks witnessed along the roads that lead to Nneato and Isuochi hinterland would have continued unabated. And security reports indicated that the suspects usually take cover in the cattle market. Of course, the whole forests and ancestral enclaves in Ngodo, Amuda, Mbala, Umuaku to the end of Abia-Anambra boundary are all desecrated for transhumance practices.  One wonders what the protagonists of the obnoxious policy intend to achieve. The suspicion is that Ruga settlement is a “devious attempt to secure usufructuary rights to land and exploit the political opportunities that such rights may confer on the Fulani”.

    The entire Southeast has a total land mass of 29,833 km2.  Abia State takes 6,320 km2 of the lands, while Umunneochi LGA occupies only 368km2. As such, the little land that we have is a prized asset to our people. But come to think of it, how would Senator Kalu feel if the land he acquired to build his private university at Igbere is forcibly taken over from him for a Ruga settlement? That would be unfair! Therefore, any attempt to use state power to usurp people’s lands is considered as soulless capitalism whose “widening social divisions made individualism unsustainable” according to Paul Collier.

    We must disambiguate the fixated mindset of nomadism in order to bring a lasting solution to livestock management challenge in the country. There is no consensus of conspiracy against the Fulani who are predominantly in cattle rearing business. Nobody is against cattle rearing. I have even advocated somewhere that the business is a goldmine, and that our people should invest in it. But it must be through ranching on a private arrangement, and improved technological methods.  Senator Kalu should understand that he is no longer a private person. He is now representing a constituency. He should gauge their sentiments at home before taking a position in any burning national issues. Finally, I recommend to him a copy of Tell Magazine of February 19, 2001 where he granted an interview entitled: “Why Igbo leaders are errand boys”.

    • Dr. Uche is a former chairman of Umunneochi LGA, Abia State.

  • Kalu felicitates with Muslims

    Former Abia State governor and senator-elect for Abia North, Dr. Orji Kalu, has felicitated with the Muslim community on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

    The senator-elect urged Muslims to sustain the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the exemplary virtues of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) beyond the holy month of Ramadan.

    He condemned perpetrators of hate campaign in the country, saying the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable.

    Kalu, who commended spiritual leaders for promoting peaceful co-existence among Nigerians despite religious, political and ethnic differences, admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of selflessness and patriotism in their pursuits.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu: let’s unite under God’s love

    In a statement yesterday by his media office, the former governor also urged Muslims to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with people of other faiths.

    He said: “I join our Muslim brothers and sisters across the globe to celebrate yet another Eid-el-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan fast.

    “Let us uphold and sustain the virtues of the holy month in our endeavours.

    “We must demonstrate piety, brotherliness, selflessness, forgiveness and patriotism in our daily activities, as enshrined in the Holy Qur’an.

    “Nigeria, as a heterogeneous country, is blessed and, as such, Nigerians must live in peace and harmony, regardless of religious, political and ethnic differences.”

    He urged the Ummah to offer prayers for leaders at all levels of government and admonished the political class to make life more meaningful for Nigerians.

  • Buhari has performed well, says Kalu

    Former Abia State governor and senator-elect for Abia North, Dr. Orji Kalu, has urged Nigerians to sustain their support for President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

    The former governor noted that the second term of the current administration will be used to consolidate on the achievements of the first term.

    He said the determined efforts of President Buhari have manifested in all ramifications, stressing that the political class must desist from making inflammatory utterances capable of causing disharmony among Nigerians.

    Kalu, who faulted perpetrators of hate campaign for using political, religious and ethnic sentiments to mislead the unsuspecting public, urged Nigerians to resist politicians with no proven track record of achievements.

    Acknowledging the growing popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast, the senator-elect urged the leadership of the party to consider Ndigbo for key appointments in all arms of government.

    Read Also: Kalu calls for sanctions against S’East APC leaders

    In a statement yesterday by his media office, Kalu expressed appreciation to Nigerians for voting en masse for President Buhari, adding that the future of Nigeria is bright under the current administration.

    He said: “As Nigeria records another feat with the swearing in of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, I am optimistic that this historic milestone will translate into a better life for Nigerians.

    “I equally salute the returning and new governors, who are being sworn in today as chief executives of their states. The elections are over and it is time for serious governance.

    “The political class must live up to expectations at all levels of government.

    “Nigerians deserve a quality life and, as such, policies and programmes that will have meaningful impacts on the society must be formulated and executed. The time is now for politicians and other stakeholders to work harmoniously to build a decent society.

    “Let us forget our political, ethnic and religious differences for the sake of nation building.”

     

  • Kalu denies nominating brother, cousin for minister

    The Senator-elect for Abia North, Orji Kalu, has debunked rumours that he nominated his younger brother Mascot Kalu and cousin Dr. Madukwe Ukaegbu for minister.

    A statement yesterday from Kalu’s media office urged the public to disregard the false news. It described it as the handwork of mischief makers and political jobbers who are envious of the APC’s growing popularity in Abia State.

    The statement reads: “We condemn the news that Dr. Orji Kalu has nominated his brother Mascot Kalu and cousin Madukwe Ukaegbu for ministerial appointment.

    “The fake news is another attempt by political jobbers to score cheap political points. We advise the management of the online platform which started the spread to apologise within seven days otherwise face the wrath of the law.”

    The statement also urged members of the APC to be wary of paid agents of the opposition, saying Kalu will not lose sleep over the antics of failed politicians.

    The party has dissociated itself from moves by President Muhammadu Buhari to re-appoint Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, current Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, as a minister.

    Read also: Why I want to be deputy senate president, by Kalu

    The party, which accused Enelamah of apathy towards its activities in the last three years, called on the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to ensure that Abia gets a minister who is committed to the party’s  interest and growth in the next Federal Cabinet.

    The Publicity Secretary, Comrade Benedict Godson, who addressed reporters, said most of the problems faced by the party during the last election were due to Enelamah’s non-commitment and lackadaisical approach to its issues.

    He said: “We have a minister on paper but nobody feels his impact. Throughout the campaigns, he showed no interest. He should help  build this party, but he has instead remained unconcerned and lackadaisical. He’s practically not an APC member.

    “Now he is being projected to return as a minister which should not be so. We disown him because he’s a saboteur to our party here in Abia. His attitude is serving the interest of the opposition.

    “We call for his immediate removal. The APC is too big with many qualified members for us to be appointing non-members. Enelamah is not a member of our party and should not be appointed as a minister again….”