By Obike Ukoh
Many candidates are jostling for the Abia North senatorial seat, alongside the incumbent, Sen. Orji Kalu for the 2023 senatorial election to represent the zone, if elected.
It is not necessary to list the names of the candidates and their parties. The important question is whether the incumbent deserves re-election? Seeking election or re-election is an inalienable right, but the electorate decide who leads them.
But ahead of that Feb. 25, 2023 National Assembly election, there are pointer that the present occupant of the position, Kalu, who is also the Chief Whip of the Senate, should be given a second change.
Those clamouring for Kalu’s return based it on evidential performance. It is on record that in less than four years Kalu turned Abia North into a construction site, with almost all the communities feeling the impact of Kalu’s representation at the National Assembly. He has built more than 53 roads across the zone.
Many stakeholders within and outside Abia North senatorial zone attest to Kalu’s performance.
One of the stakeholders, a socio-political group, in the South East zone, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), recently endorsed the re-election of Kalu.
The group said that Kalu, has opened the eyes of the people of the zone to know that a senator can attract many road projects in three years.
COSEYL explained that Kalu has attracted more dividends of democracy to the zone especially in the area of road projects than his predecessors, combined.
The group said: “COSEYL endorses Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for a second term to represent the good people of Abia North Senatorial zone at the Senate come 2023. He has shown capacity to deliver huge democracy dividends to the people who elected him to the senate.
“The 2023 general elections is a year where the electorate will vote for candidates with capacity to deliver and not the political party of the candidates.’’
COSEYL further stated that Kalu attracted roads and other infrastructural projects to other senatorial zones that is not his area of coverage as senator.
“Our decision to endorse Senator Orji Kalu is because he restored the confidence of Abia North electorate in government by making them know that a senator is not a position for those who share frying pans to their constituents, but an office that determines the fate of the people through direct touch, by delivering quality democracy dividends.
“Businessmen and women have received business and start-up capitals to boost their businesses and innovations, which have created job opportunities in Abia North and beyond. The lists of Senator Orji Kalu’s achievements are endless.
“Though we are non-partisan, we have to step in to ensure that our people are properly guided in order not to make any mistake during the Feb. 25 National Assembly election. A vote for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is a vote for capacity, vote wisely.”
Another group, under the aegis of Abia North Stakeholders, has appealed to other aspirants from the zone to drop their ambition in favour of Sen. Orji Kalu.
The group made up of youth groups, professionals, academics, prominent members of the political class, and top businessmen, stressed that the cap fits Orji Kalu.
In a statement signed by Dr. Kalu Ncheghe, the group said that indices showed that the senate chief whip performed well.
“The group believes that Kalu’s performance as the senator representing Abia North senatorial district is the best in the history of Abia State.
“We need to encourage and support his aspiration in 2023, we will love to see him in the Red Chambers again.
“What he has done as a senator is unprecedented. The building of roads, schools, and distribution of educational materials in Abia North senatorial district is unprecedented.
“The bills, motions, and infrastructural development are the best we have seen since 1999.
“We should not joke with our best at this critical time. We need more development in Abia North. Therefore, I am appealing to all to continue to trust Sen. Orji Kalu even beyond 2023 for more development.
Contemporary observers and monitors have also acknowledged the enviable performance of Kalu, as the senator representing Abia North.
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Kalu
He was recently declared the 2022 Best Senator in Execution of Constituency Projects.
The Leadership Excellence Awards, bestowed on Kalu, is endorsed by the African Union, African Film Institute, while the ceremony was organised by an online television outfit.
Kalu got 283, 011 votes to defeat Sen. Adetokumbo Abiru, who scored 83,204 votes, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege 128,330 votes and Sen. Barau Jubrin who got 72, 276 votes to emerge the winner.
The organisers said that Kalu elected in 2019, has facilitated massive infrastructural and empowerment projects to Abia-North.
They listed the projects as: Construction of 2-5km rural roads across the five local governments in Abia North; renovation of schools, hospitals; provision of learning materials to students; distribution of over 1,000 sewing machines, power generation sets , motorcycles to farmers and artisans, among others.
Orji Kalu was also among the 14 serving federal lawmakers, that some civil society groups (CSOs) in Nigeria advocated should be re-elected.
The lawmakers that made the list are:
Senators Ali Ndume (APC- Borno South), Smart Adeyemi (APC-Kogi West), James Manager (PDP-Delta South), Enyinnaya Abaribe (then PDP- Abia South), Abiodun Olujimi (PDP- Ekiti South), Sani Musa (APC- Niger East) and Olamilekan Adeola (APC- Lagos West).
Others are the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase (APC- Plateau State), Ndudi Elumelu (PDP- Delta State), Ado Doguwa (APC- Kano State), Muktar Betara (APC- Borno State), Nkiru Onyejeocha (APC-Abia State) and Sergius Ogun (PDP-Edo State).
They said that the 14 lawmakers distinguished themselves in their legislative activities within the last three years.
The group, under the aegis of Coalition of Media and Civil Sociey Organisations in Nigeria, said their position was a patriotic one.
The National Co-ordinator of the group, Mr Alex Enemanna, stressed that the call was necessitated by the outcome of the report of a research conducted by several CSOs in all the federal constituencies and senatorial districts across the country.
He said the report showed that the 14 lawmakers performed creditably, as far as legislative activism and development-driven legislations are concerned.
He said: “After a careful appraisal of the Ninth National Assembly, the coalition and its key partners have come to a conclusion, after careful perusal and fact finding, and in view of sustaining the culture of experience in legislation, that some legislators are deserving of commendation for being on the side of the people in the course of their national assignment, both in the quality of motions and bills they have sponsored.
“They have also carried out responsible oversight of their committees, as well as initiating projects to make life worth living in their various constituencies.
“This is a cardinal decision of the coalition in order to avoid legislative brain drain for the overall benefits of the nation by sustaining experience, quality and capacity in the nation’s National Assembly.
“This appraisal cuts across the political divides, ranking and non-ranking members and of course both chambers of the National Assembly.’’
Enemanna explained that the 14 lawmakers were adjudged to be the best, based on three months intensive and thorough research carried out across the 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies.
Unarguably, and as attested by critical stakeholders, Orji Kalu showed class in the performance of his legislative function. As is the universal practice, and echoed by informed audiences, winning team is not usually changed.
