By Ralph Egbu
Enigmas or mercurial people would always attract different interpretations from people and groups. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State and currently Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is one of such. He has gotten his due share of glory and misinterpretations. He remains strong and focused. No wonder he has remained very relevant and a yardstick after so many life encounters and top flight outings.
This business mongul from Igbere in northern fringes of Abia State follows God and then his heart in all matters. This has carved out a niche about him. He takes full advantage of the law of distinction.
Kalu may well pass for a philosopher. He loves to break new grounds and to take on what people think is a very difficult task. He makes success of them. He is a businessman with a difference, very successful at that ;kind hearted and has this penchant to lift people up the pinnacle of great life. He is human and so could have his faults like the rest of us but his good side far outweighs whatever anyone will think are his negative scores. By him many families in Abia in particular and Nigeria got champions sons and daughters raised within them, men and women still holding out today across the country and the world. His era as Abia State Governor was great.
Many forget many communities have lights today courtesy of his administration’s rural transformation agenda. Critical road infrastructure like Owaza – Obehie – Azumini road in Ukwa axis, Ururuka road transversing about four LGAs of Umuahia South, Isiala Ngwa north and south, Obingwa and terminating at Aba, Abia State commercial nerve center was executed by his administration. Ohuhu ring road, very beautiful expressway leading into Isuochi local government headquarters popularly known as Lomara, Isuochi, Nneato road, Ohafia – Okunaku road were well executed by him while in power. He built up the commissioners quarters in Umuahia, restored public water supply to state capital. Because he believed training is the quickest means to develop a backward society and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, education was truly free in primary and secondary schools and even the state university charged very, very low school fees so even the poor could send their children to acquire sound education.
Today salary payments has become an issue and very important achievement but under Orji Kalu it wasn’t an important state matter because it was considered a right, part of government routine assignment, workers got paid promptly their salaries, got in addition their promotion, office imprest, transport, overtime and leave allowances. His era was one workers could build houses and buy cars. He built up Aba stadium to be able to host CAF football competitions and made Enyimba FC not only Nigerian champions but African champions back to back. He was very sensitive to diversity of clan in the make up of Abia State and responded very well to it. He made it possible for CHIEF ADOLPHUS WABARA a SENATOR who later went on to emerge Senate President of Nigeria to come from “minority UKWA EAST & saw to it that the first substantive SECRETARY TO ABIA STATE Government in THE WHOLE OF OLD ABA ZONE in the person of Ralph Egbu came from another” minority “area of Asa in Ukwa West LGA. Not only this, he created THIRD DEPUTY CHAIRMAN ABIA STATE COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS & gave the office to HRM Eze ADINDU OF AZUMINI KINGDOM now late.
Successive governments ought to improve on what they meet that is how societies attain modernity. Kalu gave his best.
IT IS HIS BIRTHDAY AND HERE IS JOINING MANY OF HIS ADMIRERS WORLDWIDE TO WISH THIS TROJAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY MORE HAPPY RETURNS.
SIR U WILL LIVE VERY LONG AND PROSPER IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST AMEN.
FROM RALPH EGBU AND FAMILY ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT EGBU DYNASTY OF UMUIKU OZA, UKWA WEST LGA. ABIA STATE.