From Okey Sampson, Aba
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter and a group, Concerned Abians for Good Governance and Justice (CAGGJ) have hailed the defection of the former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to the ruling party. They said his presence would ensure APC’s acceptance in the South East.
Kalu resigned from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), a party he formed, Wednesday last week and was formerly received by members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and others led by the national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
APC chairman in Abia, Donatus Nwankpa, said members of the party in the state would not have been happier.
“Kalu is an asset to the party in the state, the South East 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. His joining the party 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 South East is a clear indication that the party is growing in strength and in number in the region.”
Nwankpa expressed happiness over the number of political bigwigs in Abia, South East and the country as a whole that have joined the party, stating that it shows that APC was becoming formidable and remains the party to beat in 2019 general elections.
Also, CAGGJ co-ordinator, Egwu D. Uwa said Kalu’s decision would alter the political landscape of Abia State. Uwa said with the defection, Kalu has corrected the political mistake he made when he handed power to T.A. Orji.
While expressing the hope that soon many more would join the party, the chairman was optimistic that Kalu being a grassroots politician will come to formalize his membership at the ward, LG and state levels respectively.”
In a telephone chat, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Ben Godson said the value Kalu would bring to the party as a great mobilize cannot be overemphasized.
Godson debunked the fear in some quarters that he (Kalu) was coming to hijack the structure of the party in the state, stressing that before the former governor joined, there was existing structure and party leadership in the state. he saw the insinuation as the handiwork of enemies of the party in the state.
“Kalu I know being a good party man will instead give his maximum support to the leadership of the party in the state in order to ensure that they achieved the desired result.”
There was generally joy among supporters of Kalu across Abia that by his joining APC, the former governor would no longer play a second fiddle in the politics of Abia, South East and the country at large.
In the same vein, CAGGJ co-ordinator, Egwu D. Uwa in hailing Kalu’s decision said his joining of APC was going to change Abia political landscape.
In an interview in Aba, Uwa said that Kalu by action he had corrected what he described as the political mistake the former governor made in handing power to T.A Orji.
“I must say that this is the best political decision kalu has taken since 2007 when he handed over power to T.A Orji; in fact by defecting to APC, he has corrected that mistake”.
On the insinuation in some quarters that Kalu joined the ruling because of his matter with EFCC, Uwa said that was the figment of the imagination of the former governor’s detractors, stating instead that what has held the business mogul cum politician back from joining APC where he said most of his political associates belong, was the Abia North senatorial zone matter which was dispensed with penultimate week.
Uwa was optimistic that Kalu would take Abia and indeed the whole of the South East to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.
