Days after distributing entrepreneurial materials to the entire local governments in his Abia-North Senatorial zone, Chief Whip of the Senate Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is showing no signs of relenting in his empowerment drive as the Abia-North Senator on Thursday doled out cash, food items, cloth materials and more empowerment materials to the State Chapter of the OUK Movement and Reality Organisation support groups.
The OUK movement which stands for Orji Uzor Kalu Movement is the official National support group of the former Abia Governor while Reality Organisation is one of the foremost political support groups in Abia State, which served as the Governorship campaign platform for Orji Kalu in 1999.
Since his arrival to his Southeast home, Senator Uzor Kalu has spent the last two weeks distributing empowerment items to members of his Senatorial zone , the items include over two thousand motorcycles, and over three thousand sewing machines.
Thursday’s exercise witnessed the attendance of members and executives of both groups drawn from the entire 295 ABSIEC (Abia State electoral commission) recognised wards in Abia State.
During the interaction with members of the OUK Movement and the Reality Organization, they charged everyone to have unity at the family, community, Local Government, state and national level as the main agenda, stressing that without unity, nothing will be achieved.
The Political occasion witnessed the attendance of several other dignitaries drawn from the political and business sphere. Amongst them included; MD and CEO of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe; Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, representing Bende Federal constituency Hon. Okezie Benjamin Kalu; Minority Whip of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Chukwu Chijioke; Federal commissioner of the Public complaints commission; eminent businessman Dr. Sam Nwachukwu; Prominent BusinessMan and Political stalwart Chief Daniel Okeke ; President and founder of Reality Organisation, Elder Mrs. Eunice Uzor Kalu; former Chief of staff to Abia State and Director General OUK movement amongst others.
The event was heralded with various speeches from various eminent personalities who extolled the leadership virtues of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, charged the group to remain committed to the objectives of the group.
They urged the members to steam up its mobilisation of more members into both groups, while reiterating that the groups will play a major role in the endorsement and presentation of candidates for various positions in the 2023 election.
Items distributed by Senator Orji Kalu to the elated members at this Igbere camp Neya Home include; over three thousand bags of rice to members of both groups, over 5000 wrapper clothing materials and over 10 million naira cash to be shared among the members.
Addressing the crowd gathered at Kalu’s residence a former member of the House of Representatives, Prince Arua Arunsi said the items given to the people was as result of their unalloyed loyalty and commitment to their groups.
“Today is a great day to reap the rewards of loyalty, because the greatest asset is loyalty. I commend you all for your support to the ideals of the OUK movement and Reality Organisation”.
“Orji Kalu remains a leader you can bank on, he has always distinguished himself at leadership positions he has held, as Governor he instituted free education, civil servants were never owed and were paid timely, local government chairman and councillors were well paid and motivated to executive local project contracts, traditional rulers were placed on salary and their welfare was adequately catered for.
“As our Senator has performed excellently well in all aspects from bills, Infrastructure and empowerment. Let’s all continue to give him our support.
Harping on commitment, reward and Dedication, the Chief host of the event, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu stated that the occasion was dedicated to reward the efforts of the members towards the success of both groups. Outlining his achievements as Governor of the state , Kalu pointed out that the group will ensure that the next crop of elected officials will emerge from it’s fold.
He said ” As my people I cannot be at peace if you people are not at peace, this event is for the inner political family where we synergise and strategize. I decided to call you all to receive your items yourselves; because if I had sent it over to you people it might not get to you people.
Speaking on State’s political matters , Orji Kalu said that the APC was in the best position and advantage to produce the next Governor of the state since the current Governor will be completing his eight year tenure next year 2023.
“I can assure you that this group will produce the next Governor, and I am leaving no stone unturned. My Job is simple and that is to back our Governorship candidate financially to ensure that we take over this state.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has vowed that he will back up the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to emerge victorious in the 2023 guber election.
“What’s more important to us now is unity. Both in our country, state, communities and families. Our minds must be mind built up with unity. This is the direction I’ll want all of us to go and it’s my own direction,” he said.
Kalu said that inasmuch as he is ready to financially support the candidate of the APC to emerge victorious come the 2023 governorship election, everyone should ensure that the party elects a responsible and capable candidate who will also put his or her own funds during the campaigns and when necessary. The former Governor charged the people to ensure that Abia gets it right come 2023, as any mistake made will longer for so long, stressing that the state currently needs to get better
In his words; “This time around, nobody is coming for the second tenure as Governor. It’ll all be fresh candidates. We need someone who’ll be Governor that’ll not be far from the people. “I assure you that I’ll play a big role especially financially to support our party’s candidate. I’ll be there to back the party and candidate. However, we don’t want an artificial candidate. “We don’t need a candidate who’ll not be responsible. We need candidates that’ll bring out his or her own funds as well.
Kalu who said he will also convene a similar meeting with all the members of the All Progressives Congress in the state urged the members of the OUK Movement and the Reality Organization to go into Abia and be “fishers of electorates”, by showcasing the achievements for people to see. He showered all those present at the meeting with different gifts, thanked them and urged all of them to keep working hard, as no hardworking person will go unrewarded. Some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude the Senate Chief Whip for the meeting and urged him to continue with the numerous constituency projects that are seen all over Abia North Senatorial Zone
