- Kalu fetes elderly, poor, urges them to embrace APC
From Okey Sampson, Aba
He is not new to philanthropy. Like the Igbo would say, an elephant does not find it difficult to go through a path treaded by its mother. Indeed, his act of philanthropy flowed from his mother, Mrs Eunice Kalu, who is popularly known as Odiukonamba, to him.
And today, philanthropy runs in the veins of the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. And for 24 years, he has been doing this like he did again during this New Year.
Thus recently at his Igbere country home, styled Camp Neya, Kalu celebrated the New Year with over 200 elderly women, indigent widows from the 13 villages of Igbere, his hometown that is so dear to his heart. It was a day the former governor had in his characteristic manner given enough to his people for the festivities.
But the latest gesture was for women whose ages are between 60 years and above. This category of people had in their numbers arrived at the Camp Neya to receive and savour the gifts from their illustrious son.
Although the former governor had been doing this over the years, but this year’s was quite spectacular as he was joined in the celebration with the women by the leadership of his new political party in the state, the All Progressive Congress (APC), led by its chairman, Donatus Nwankpa, among other political associates.
Addressing the women, Kalu who donated food items, drinks and cash to them said that the celebration was part of his efforts to touch the lives of the aged in the society, describing old age as a blessing and grace that everyone prays to live to witness.
The business mogul-cum-politician didn’t stop at the food and cash donations, as he also went into what he knows how best to do – politics. He used the opportunity to preach to the women about the APC, marshalling out what the party would bring to bear if voted into power in the state in 2019.
He also urged them to support the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, who he said was putting Nigeria on a good path.
He urged the women to take the message of change being preached by Buhari to their friends and households, expressing optimism that the country would come out of the current recession.
He debunked insinuations that APC was for the North: “APC is that party that will give the Igbo the platform to produce the president that will succeed President Buhari at the expiration of his tenure in office.”
Kalu thanked the women for finding time to come just as he praised God for keeping them alive, promising that the gathering would be continuous.
The leader of the women, Mama Lydia Igbokwe, thanked Kalu for his magnanimity over the years and urged him not to relent in his good work.
Nwankpa and the state APC Publicity Secretary, Comrade Benedict Godson, described Kalu’s gesture as one that was worth emulating. According to Nwankpa: “It is always a thing of joy to be among the elderly. Kalu has always been known as a good philanthropist and someone that likes interacting with not only the elderly, but someone that likes associating with people regardless of age and class. Despite his wealth, he still has time to interact with people around him.”
The women overwhelmed with joy in turn presented Kalu with some tubers of yam, a bag of garri, red oil and other farm produce as a mark of appreciation for his benevolence to them over the years.
The former governor later joined the women to dance to the admiration of all.