Vincent Kalu

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Mazi Chibuike Jonas, has called on the people of Abia North senatorial zone to vote former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to represent them at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Jonas, a former chairman of Arochukwu Local Government Area, said Kalu’s presence in the Senate would provide a great fillip on addressing Igbo marginalisation, as well as attracting projects that have been denied the zone because of poor representation.

According to him, the former Abia governor is very vocal, courageous and bold, and has always been in the forefront championing Igbo cause, so his going there meant an Igbo voice shall always be heard. He said his strength of character stands him out among his competitors.

“Kalu is a consummate politician, a bridge builder with immense goodwill across the country; he is highly respected and connected with every group in the country.

“We should jettison sentiment and do the right thing by electing him. He is the type that the Igbo should be sending to represent them, not the second eleven who go there to sleep during plenaries,” Jonas stated.

The APC chieftain noted that, “even though Kalu’s major opponent in the race is from Arochukwu, my local government, our people are rooting for the him because of what he did for us when he was the governor; the infrastructural development we had in the local government was under Kalu, as the governor.

“His opponent has been in the National Assembly thrice, and our people are yet to feel his impact, and that is why we are disenchanted over his re-election to the senate.

“What do you stand to gain if your brother is in government and you are hungry and suffering, while his opponent that is not from your place remembered you and your community benefited so much from him when he was in government?

“That is the question our people are asking, and their answers have made the re-election of our brother difficult; that is why everybody is saying, it’s Kalu they know.”

Jonas also warned PDP, the ruling party in the state, that its rigging machinery would fail this time around, adding that, “the party has been rejected in the state because there is nothing concrete the present government in the state has accomplished. Their achievements are in the media, and because they know Abia people have deserted them, their next action is to rig the election. It is not going to be business as usual and our party will resist them.”