From Okey Sampson, Bende
IN what appears to be a mass movement devoid of political inclination, the people of Abiriba, in Ohafia Local Government and their neighbours of Umuhu Ezechi in Bende Local Government have endorsed former governor of the state and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidate for the Abia North senator districtrerun election, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
The election holds on March 5. The people gave their words to Kalu when the former governor went to the communities in continuation of his electioneering campaign, which has taken him to almost all the political wards of the five local governments which make up Abia North senatorial district.
At Abiriba, country home of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the March 5 rerun election, Chief David Ogba, the people, including the elderly came out in their numbers in a carnival-like atmosphere to give Kalu, who they described as their son, unflinching support and love.
Some of their leaders, who spoke were Chief (Mrs) Nne Kalu, a former permanent secretary; Eleanya Ifendu (youth leader); Odim Okpan; Osondu Agbai and another woman leader, Dr (Mrs) Rose Udeagha . They all said that despite the fact that their son Ogba was contesting the election, they have faith in kalu because of what he did for them when he was governor.
“Kalu is one person that did not let us down when he was governor. He acceded to our requests and it is therefore, inconsequential whether our son is contesting the election or not, we are going to give Kalu our votes, he will represent us at the Senate better”, said Kalu.
Equally, a well known community leader, Chief Nnamdi Iro Orji, who was said to be indisposed sent in a message at the rally through Sunday Ifeigbo where he urged the entire people of Abiriba not to make the mistake they made in the last election and vote for Kalu, stating that he (Kalu) was their son from a different community.
Dr. Udeagha revealed this of Kalu to the astonishment of the people; “Abia North should be very proud of Kalu, he is respected all over Nigeria and beyond. There is one thing people do not know about OUK; as far back 1985, he addressed the US Senate at a tender age of 25. If he could do that at that tender age, I don’t think that he would be found wanting at the Nigerian Senate”.
At Amaogudu, elders of the area who Kalu visited in their ancestral meeting place where he was given the community’s traditional rites of passage as a mark of acceptability and love, described the former governor as a member of the Udojiaku Age Grade of the place, and subsequently endorsed him for the Senate.
The elders recalled that it was during his administration that some of their sons were given positions of trust including Prof Mkpa Agu Mkpa who was made vice chancellor of Abia State University and, later, commissioner.
A youth leader, Eleanya Ifendu said they jettisoned their son and endorsed Kalu because of his benevolence and what he did for their community when he was governor.
“I am a staunch member of APGA, but, as far as this Abia North senatorial district issue is concerned, we are no longer talking about party but somebody who will represent the area well. And, that our brother you talked about, he has no weight politically and there is no way you can compare him with OUK, we need somebody of Kalu’s clout in the Senate.
“Senate is not for all comers; Abia North needs a man with strong influence like Kalu who has seen it all in the Nigerian project, not a political neophyte or somebody that will to the Senate to carry bags for his fellow senator.”
from The Sun News http://ift.tt/1QBCuR7
via IFTTT
0 comments:
Post a Comment