APC Group reacts to blackmails on Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu

The All Progressives Congress Mass Movement in Abia state has reacted to allegations against Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and cautioned the sponsors to desist from blackmail and face reality.

The Group in a joint statement signed by its Chairman , Hon. Victor Okorie and Executive Secretary, Comrade Uche Ogboso condemned the sponsors alleging that they are making attempts to create disaffection and disunity in the Abia APC before decamping to another party .

The group raised concern about the incessant attacks on stakeholders of Abia APC , revealing that the steps taken by the said blackmailer is unnecessary.

The full statement reads below :

” The unwarranted ceaseless slander and malicious falsehood against our leader most distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has been found to be sponsored and heavily bankrolled by a governorship aspirant in the state. We have done our investigations and have decided to offer our advice for the interst of our party and the people of Abia State .

We have read similar blackmails but the recent one accusing Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of plotting to make his younger brother, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu the governor of Abia state after Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is only but laughable. It is laughable because it would have been a worthy news if the blackmailer has said that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu want to Contest for Governor of Abia in 2023 against the constitution and democratic provision. But the blackmailer is insinuating that Mascot Uzor Kalu who contested for House of Representatives in the last general election has no right to aspire for any political office including governorship.

The blackmailer concocted several other unimaginable lies and tried his possible best to create apathy between leaders and stakeholders of All Progressives Congress in the state .

Having had several meetings with Kalu on the way forward for Abia state including his efforts in the party in the past , we can categorically state that as long as the Governorship and other elective public offices are concerned the Chief Whip & Abia APC caucus leader has no preferred or anointed candidate. He remains committed and neutral in his quest to reposition the party and make it a viable platform which every public office aspirant can contest on.

Kalu is busy with his Senatorial assignment and we are happy with what he has been doing as a Senator. He is on the course of attracting more than 17 rehabilated roads to Abia North ; He has secured jobs for more than 800 of his constituents . He has opened businesses for several of his constituents and has engaged in many empowerment programmes for his people.

When Abians read about the huge amount of money paid to media influencers to demarket Orji Kalu , they must have not given it full attention until now .

We also understand that part of the worries of this blackmailer is the huge gain APC has made in the state in recent times . The party is stronger than ever and growing Progressively. It is galring that the party under cacaus leadership of Senator Orji Kalu has become the cynosure of all eyes.

The sponsor of this campaign of calumny against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has become jittery since entrance of new members to the party including Alex Otti and have chosen to fight every member of the party.

We advise the blackmailer not to waste his resources on destroying Kalu’s image because a bigger project of such failed in the past. All those that fought Kalu , wrote unprintable names against him , told several lies against him , where are they today ? Did their lies reduce Kalu ? No it didn’t, rather it made him more popular because the people know the truth . God has lifted him more and he is waxing stronger. Abia people love Kalu and no propaganda and lies can demarket him .

Anybody that want to be Governor should work for it and sell himself to the people. Fighting everyone is not the solution. The blackmailer and his aides fights and abuses Alex Otti, Nkiru Onyejeocha, Nkechi Wogu, Acho Obioma, Donatus Nwankpa on daily basis , they have even added Benjamin Kalu to their list . So what do they want ? They want these stakeholders to leave APC for them ?

Knowing who Kalu is , we are sure he is unperturbed about this blackmails because he has wronged no one to deserve the ill treatment. We are only advising the blackmailer, at the same time letting him know we shall no longer tolerate such nonsense and shall henceforth be vehemently resisted. We urge the said blackmailer to call his aides to order and advise them to be more useful to him. We also encourage him to apply wisdom in pursuing his governorship ambition.

He failed the party in 2019 election and we are aware of his intention to decamp to another party to pursue his gubernatorial aspirations. He must not cause disaffection and disharmony among the APC leaders before decamping to another. He can leave in peace.”

RE: ORJI UZOR KALU AND HIS CLANDESTINE SECRET PLOTS TO MAKE MASCOT KALU THE NEXT ABIA GOVERNOR, PERPETUALLY CONVERT ABIA STATE TO FAMILY PROPERTY

When I read the mischievous write up by one, Chigbu Nwogu on some online platforms, I knew political jobbers and enemies of progress are at work again.

The write up coming at a time there is relative peace in Abia polity, shows that the sponsor (s) of the said article and their cohorts, have a selfish agenda of heating the polity in God’s own state.

Without holding brief for Kalu and his family members, as an experienced administrator, philanthropist and community leader in Abia state, I can read between the lines, when articles like this pop up. With the obvious and unwarranted attack on the Kalus’ and their political dynasty, it is clear the writer and his cohorts are looking for cheap popularity.

Yes, no doubt, Orji Kalu became Governor of Abia state at the young age of 39 to the adoration of Abians. Like every mortal, nobody is perfect. Kalu did his best as the state’s helmsman to the extent that the then President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, couldn’t hide his joy, when he visited Abia state to see the laudable road projects executed within six months of Kalu’s tenure. I remember vividly then, Obasanjo’s excitement earned Kalu the name “Action Governor” . Despite the huge debt burden and slim resources of Abia state when Kalu assumed the mantle of leadership, the accomplishments of Kalu as Governor are remarkable and historic. The free education, free primary health care, prompt payment of salaries and pensions, infrastructural regeneration, massive reconstruction, rehabilitation and construction of roads, youth and women empowerment programmes, peace and security, scholarship programmes, sports development: Enyimba FC CAF Cup 2004/2005 and other projects of the Kalu administration remain evergreen in the minds of Abians. I agree that government is a continuum and as such, successive governments after Kalu ought to have consolidated and taken Abia state to the next level.

Kalu has been out of public office for 12 years, until last year when he was elected as a Senator, representing Abia North Senatorial District. Upon resumption as a Senator in the red chamber, Kalu has used his office and vast contacts to attract federal projects: erosion control, roads and youth empowerment projects to his constituency and beyond. He has also sustained his known boldness, courage, patriotism and selflessness in his capacity as the Chief Whip of the Senate. Kalu’s profile in the private and public spheres of life, is intimidating and rich and as such, political enemies and jobless elements, who are always envious of other people’s progress, will certainly adopt different measures, to rubbish the hard earned pedigree of successfully persons. I will only advise Kalu to ignore such shallow minded individuals like the author of the write-up.

The Kalus: Orji, Nnanna, Mascot and their matriarch, Elder Mrs Eunice Uzor Kalu (Odi-Uko) have created a niche for themselves in various aspects of life. The Kalu political dynasty has nurtured, supported and made politicians across board. With all sense of humility, most politicians in Abia state, had at one time or another benefited from the magnanimity and benevolence of the Kalus’. Hence, faulting the Kalus’ for raising people from grass to grace is not only unfair but wicked.

The continuous rise of Kalu’s profile in the political space has been giving the sponsor (s) of the write-up sleepless nights . Kalu as Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia state, as expected in his capacity, has been meeting with party stalwarts, stakeholders, chieftains and loyalists to advance the cause of the APC in Abia state and other parts of the country. At a well attending caucus and extended caucus/stakeholders meeting at Camp Neya, Igbere on August 8, 2020 and August 9, 2020 respectively, the party members and chieftains applauded the efforts of Kalu in his determined efforts to reposition the party in Abia state. It is important to bear in mind that in politics as a leader, your doors must be open to all and sundry, without discrimination. Kalu has demonstrated his open door policy and participatory approach to governance by meeting with party chieftains and stakeholders from time to time. During Kalu’s triumphant visit to Abia state last month, as always, he visited residences of Sen. Chris Adighije, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, DIG Azubuike Udah (red), Hon. Nkiru Onyejiocha, Chief Alex Otti, Chief Dan Okeke and other party stakeholders for the sake of the party.

Kalu’s younger brothers, Nnanna and Mascot, are true sons of Abia state and strong pillars of APC in Abia state and as such if they so decide to run for elective positions, it is not a crime nor out of place.The duo are matured and independent. They are responsible for their decisions and not the older Kalu.

Honourables Benjamin Kalu and Nkiru Onyejiocha, spokesperson and Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, respectively have been performing their noble roles in the green chamber credibly well. Kalu has always expressed his joy over these individuals in view of their contributions to their constituencies and Abia state at large. Recall, during the last general elections, Kalu, because of his firm belief in the capacities of the duo of Kalu and Onyejiocha, mobilised both material and human resources to ensure victories for the APC in Abia North Senatorial District: Bende and Isuikwuato /Ummuneochi federal constituencies inclusive. To the envy of political jobbers, the relationship between Kalu and other political office holders has been cordial. Hence, any desperate ploy to bring animosity between Kalu and his political allies, associates and mentees will not fly. As leader of APC in Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Kalu will continue to work harmoniously with other stakeholders to improve the common lots of Abians and Nigerians at large.

Let me remind the writer that Kalu before venturing into the murky waters of politics, had made a name in the business world and philanthropy. As a young man in his late twenties, Kalu was one of the richest business tycoon in Nigeria, with vast business interests in oil and gas, media, shipping, real estate, consumer goods etc. If not politics, I am sure the sponsor(s) of the writer and their cohorts, wouldn’t have had any opportunity to drag Kalu’s name into cheap political gossips. However, Kalu as a leader and father of Abia politics, will continue to stomach all these insults for the sake of his robust agenda for the people.

Finally, let prepartrators of evil, refrain from their “Pull-Him-Down” syndrome as Kalu will continue, regardless of all odds, to sustain his good works as a businessman, politician, philanthropist and community leader.

Dan Ukey writes from Aba

WHO CAST A SPELL ON US? (Part 23)- Creeping Jesus (Cont’d)

Don Norman Obinna (Agu Ibeku)

In one of my aborted serials early this year, where, I chronicled Dr Uche Ogah’s Tartufferies and deservedly styled him Creeping Jesus, countless of his sympathisers and attack dogs annexed my Facebook page, deprecated and inveighed against me.

As anticipated, they espoused their horse-and-buggy PR tactics – rhapsodising about his philanthropism and diffidence -. Not until the recent test of his amour propre, Dr Ogah was like the biblical Pool of Bethesda that healed anyone that encountered it.

So, it is understandable why tempers flared when I audaciously referred to our verecund Messiah (who is never boastful of his gargantuan achievements) as Creeping Jesus. However, his recent inglorious outburst speckled with recrimination, epithet and rodomontade has justified my submission.

In his response to some of his self-inflicted damages titled: A stop to wicked and baseless accusations by mischievous persons, Dr Ogah, whinged thus:
“In the course of time, some persons have found it a pastime to take a shot at my hard earned personality. For a while now, these fellows have gone to town with varying sorts of information all targeted at tarnishing my image and viciously attempting to create imaginary division within the rank of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State.”

Hello sir, I, disagree with this hypocritical allusion. There are no enemies anywhere except you and your boys, especially that grumpy chatterbox named Demian Igbokwe.

You and your camp gave the public the impression of schism in Abia State APC. For the sake of example, it’s fortnight Dr Alex Otti decamped to the APC, yet no public congratulatory message from you. Instead, with your covert permission, your so-called apostles persistently deride, pooh-pooh his resilience and address him pejoratively online. What does it signify? Harmony Abi?

Do not tell us that you suddenly forgot why you sacked Mr Igbokwe before rescinding. No wahala, I will remind you. They accused him of divulging how you were secretly rejoicing over the imprisonment of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu. You see, some of us heard the story. I am sure OUK’s camp heard too. Anyways, wetin concern me? If you asked me, I would suggest you wait till 2022 to see if the rumoured division is imaginary or real.

We also read where you asserted thus “I am one of the few Abians who “has never done any Government contract with the state government or directly benefitted in any form from Abia State Government’s fund…”

It sounds more or less a grandstanding. As a reminder, you built one of your moribund filling stations on a parcel of land that belonged to the Ministry of Works at Ibiam Way, close to the Abia State government House, Umuahia. An insight into how you acquired the land with properly documented evidence will lend credence to your claim.
Furthermore, Dr Ogah said, “I have not participated whatsoever in the fleecing of the State’s resources, whether now or in the past, rather, I have been giving and been spending my own resources in the State.”

This particular claim got me laughing because I never believed it could emanate from you. However, I found it strange that you lacked the balls to mention the names of the perpetrators at your level as a junior minister of the Federal Republic.

To make such a weighty allegation of “stealing of public funds” without calling the names of offenders is tantamount to pusillanimity. I am also surprised that you of all people, who relishes threatening/arresting those who made allegations against you with police/DSS would toe the same line.

Anyways, we would be under the influence of a magic spell to believe that you are criticising the government. I won’t doubt it one bit if someone told me that you had sent a text message of apology over this your reckless allegation. I am sure you made it out of anger and must be regretting by now.

Like I said earlier, you are the architect of your criticism. A critical look at your claim of owning the highest industrial cluster and the largest employer of labour in Abia State is ludicrous. Your companies in Abia State are moribund. Maybe you are talking about abstract employment commonly referred to as audio employment.

I want to believe that your spurious claims are the reasons for the knocks. We have heard several of them. How you cleared ABSU staff salary arrears; bought over 100 vehicles to support Ochendo Empowerment Scheme, still no evidence to back them up. I don’t even want to talk about your scholarship scheme and the fate of the beneficiaries. Let’s leave it for another day.

Lest we forget, real men of God do not curse they bless; unless you are telling us that you are Creeping Jesus. Your praying position, in the picture below, shows that you are conversant with Matthew, chapter 5, verses 44 -45. Oya read am and tell us wetin e talk.

To be continued