Senator representing Abia North senatorial district, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu says he has no hand in the alleged disenfranchisement of the people of Abiriba in Ohafia local government area in the February 25 National Assembly elections.
The lawmaker says the allegation that he accused Agboji and Ameke communities in Abiriba of being sympathetic to the agitations of IPOB, hence voters did not come out to exercise their civic right is false and unfounded.
The former Abia governor’s response comes after a group Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU) insisted that Sen. Kalu’s alleged comment was instrumental to why they did not vote on election day over fear of being attacked.
ACIU in a paid newspaper advertorial said Sen. Kalu’s alleged comment caused INEC not to deploy its officials to the community, which according to the union eventually disenfranchised some of their people.
The community in the paid advert severally contradicted itself. At some points, it claims INEC officials did not show up for the conduct of the National Assembly election in the community, at others, it says they came but at an inappropriate time.
“INEC did not show up till about 3:20 pm on that faithful day.
“When they eventually arrived, particularly in Agboji ward that has ten polling units, they claimed they did not have adequate voting materials”, the advertorial on THISDAY newspaper read in part.
But in response to this allegation, Sen. Kalu’s media aide, Hon Maduka Okoro said there is no shadow of truth in the allegation by ACIU, saying Sen. Kalu does not deploy INEC officials and, hence cannot be accused of being responsible for the alleged disenfranchisement of the people of Abiriba.
According to Okoro, the threat by IPOB to unleash mayhem largely affected the turnout voters in the senatorial district, noting that his principal, Sen. Kalu never mentioned Abiriba with regards to membership of IPOB.
He said the security agencies were on the ground and documented that the apathy witnessed in some polling units in Abiriba was as a result of a threat by IPOB, a report corroborated by INEC.
“Sen. Kalu has consistently demonstrated that he is a leader for all. As a governor, he constructed the majority of the roads in Abiriba and such roads are still there till date. He has never discriminated against any clan in Abia State.
“As a Senator, he has equally upheld such a record which is clearly seen in his even distribution of democratic dividends. Our brothers in Abiriba are big beneficiaries of Sen. Kalu’s effective representation and this is anchored on his firm belief that we are all one.
“Even as a governor, the number of Abiriba sons and daughters who were appointed into strategic positions by Kalu is numerous. He has for ages demonstrated love which he will continue to demonstrate.
“It is disappointing that ACIU, a socio-cultural organisation has delved into politics instead of focusing on the development of its community and protection of its culture.
“Pointing accusing finger on Sen. Kalu for the perceived failure of INEC officials to arrive at the polling units in good time is uncharitable. Would Orji Kalu also be held responsible for the late arrival of INEC officials in polling units in Delta, Nasarawa, Kogi, Sokoto and elsewhere in the country? This is not a case of peculiar to Abia alone.
“The elections are over. It is time for governance and we must all join hands to move every inch of Abia North forward rather than engaging in the politics of antagonism.
“The cord binding us together supersedes political interest. Even ACIU does not like the face of Sen. Kalu, it must honour the bond of our brotherhood and respect our age-long togetherness. The political office is transient while our cord of love remains”, he stated.
Below Is A Compendium Of What Sen. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu Has Done In Abiriba Community From 1999 Till Date.
A. From 1999 – 2003.
1. OUK WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO EMERGENCE OF HON. TONY OKORO KALU AS THE (MAJORITY LEADER OF ABHA)
2. OUK APPOINTED DR. EKE AGBAI AS COMMISSIONER OF INFORMATION.
3. OUK APPOINTED LATE CHIEF ANYA ORUADA AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE GOVERNOR.
4. OUK APPOINTED CHIEF NDUBUISI EME AS PERSONAL AID TO GOVERNOR.
5. OUK CONSTRUCTED RING ROAD IN ABIRIBA, FROM OBA AMAOGUDU THROUGH ORIE AKWA TO ABIRIBA ROUND ABOUT.
PART B. 2003-2007.
6. OUK APPOINTED PRF. MKPA AGU MKPAAS COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION
7. OUK APPOINTED LATE CHIEF DIKE UDENSI, CHIEF DAVID OGBA ONUOHA (BOURDEX) AND CHIEF OKEBULU JOMBO AS BOARD MEMBERS IN ABSU.
8. OUK APPOINTED LATE. CHIEF MICHAEL NWOKE OKOCHA (NOKO) AS BOARD CHAIRMAN ABIA POLY
9. OUK APPOINTED LATE CHIEF ANYA ORUADA LIASON OFFICER ABA NORTH AND ABA SOUTH
10. OUK APPOINTED CHIEF NDUBUISI EME AS PERSONAL AID TO THE GOVERNOR
11. OUK APPOINTED PRINCE GEORGE NNANNA KALU AS CHAIRMAN ABIA SPORTS COUNCIL
12. OUK APPOINTED PRINCESS GRACE AGBARA T. C. CHAIRMAN OHAFIA LGA
13. OUK APPOINTED PRINCE GEORGE NNANNA KALU AS COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS AND TRANSPORT AND LATER DEPLOY HIM TO AGRICULTURE AS COMMISSIONER
14. OUK APPOINTED PROF. MKPA AGU MKPA AS V. C ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY
15. OUK APPOINTED GENERAL MBA UKARIWO AS CHAIRMAN GOVERNING BOARD OF ABIA POLY.
16. OUK APPOINTED CHIEF EMMANUEL AGWU ORJI AS T. C CHAIRMAN OHAFIA LGA
17. OUK CONSTRUCTED 2 NOS. OF ROADS, FROM ALI – NDE – ORIRI TO HOSPITAL ROAD JUNCTION AMAOGUDU, AND OKPU – ACHI – KAMALU AGBOJI.
PART. C 2018
BEFORE ELECTED AS SENATOR.
18. OUK ATTRACTED NDDC ASPHALT OVERLAY FROM OKPU-ACHI THROUGH AMAOGUDU – UDANTA-UKPO-AMANTA, AMAUKWU-ORIE AKWA, INCLUDING THE CURRENT RESIDENCE OF ENACHIOKEN OF ABIRIBA.
PART D.
AS A SENATOR
19.4 CLASSROOM BLOCK REHABILITATION AT AMAMBA COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL
- CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN AMAEKE, AMAOGUDU AND AGBOJI COMMUNITIES BY OUK
21 CONSTRUCTION OF PALM OIL PROCESSING MILL AT AGBOJI
22.DISTRIBUTON OF MOBILE CASSAVA PROCESSING MACHINES IN 17 VILLAGES OF ABIRIBA AND “OGO UBI SETTLEMENTS”
23.OUK EMPLOYED AN ABIRIBA SON AS HIS OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AID IN NASS
