The leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Abia, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has told the people of Aba South why they should vote for the party in the upcoming bye-Election.
Senator Kalu, a former Abia State Governor stated this on Friday in Aba when he led other Chieftains of the party on a campaign tour round the local Government wards for Aba South.
Abacityblog.com reports that INEC had fixed 27th March, 2021 as date to conduct Bye-election for North and South following the death of Hon. Ossy Prestige who represented the Constituency in the federal house of Reps.
Following the fixed date, campaign on who will succeed Prestige has been ongoing. The APC candidate, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu has been campaigning to be voted for on 27th.
On Friday, the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu and other party Chieftains stormed Aba North.
Among those in the campaign train include spokesperson of the Federal House of Representatives, Rep Benjamin Kalu; Deputy Minority leader for the Abia House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwu Chijoke; Former Minister for Labour, Emeka Wogu; Hon. Uche Maduko; Hon Obioma Acho; Hon. Chief Ikenna Ariwodo; Chief Daniel Akwari; Chief Joshua Jonah Okpai; Comrade Igwe Chibuisi Agu; Secretary of the party in the state, Hon. Barr. Perfect Okorie; Mr. Emelike Onyekaba among others.
The convoy of the APC team led by Senator Kalu received a massive welcome as they drove through each war, as they trooped out in their numbers to Welcome Senator Kalu and other Chieftains of the APC.
Speaking in separate interviews leaders of each wards vowed to vote for the APC in the forthcoming bye elections.
Making his opening speech at Igwebuike ward 5, Emeka Wogu stressed on the importance of voting the APC in the bye election scheduled to hold on March 27th.
The former minister reeled out the achievements of senator Kalu during his tenure as Governor of the state, which assured will be replicated in the Federal constituency if the candidate of the APC is elected.
Wogu stated that since Kalu left as Governor the developments he instituted had been abandoned, he assured that the emergence of Hon Mascot Kalu as their constituency representative at the National Assembly will mark the Era of a new beginning for the state.
He said: “Ohanku road was constructed by Senator Kalu when he was Governor; you can also remember the famous Orji Kalu bridges which are still in use till date.
“Since he left as Governor in 2007, the state has retrogressed. When he was Governor our children enjoyed free education, our civil servants were never owed but today the reverse is the case. Our workers have not been paid for so many months, our children are forced to pay obnoxious levies.
“As a Senator he has transformed Abia-North and as the Chief Whip he used his influence to attract developments to his zone and the entire Southeast, just recently his motion on the Eastern railway was approved the project was commenced.
“The APC is on a rescue mission to save Abia state beginning with Aba-North Abia South, so we urge everyone to come out in their numbers and vote for our candidate, Hon Mascot Uzor Kalu.
Harping on the importance of voting the APC in the March 27th bye Deputy Minority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Chijoke Chukwu has drummed support for Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu, candidate of APC.
He explained that any vote for Hon. Mascot Kalu will be a deliberate effort to link the federal constituency which he said is one of the cosmopolitan areas in the South East to the federal government to attract development.
Describing APC as the largest and the most promising party in Africa, during the party’s rally in Aba, the lawmaker said not voting for the candidate of the party will lead the constituency to political oblivion.
In his words “They must be with the federal government to attract a significant democratic dividend and that is why we are here, to create awareness among our people. To create awareness along Abians living in Aba North and South Federal Constituency to ensure that the right thing is done.
He continued “The three candidates are good. But none is Mascot Uzor Kalu’s match for the contest. Not just because of his popularity or by bet. Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu and his family have huge investment and they are major critical stakeholders in the Aba North/South Federal Constituency.
“We are here to give him the needed support and campaign vigorously because we believe in democracy. We don’t believe in violence. APC in Abia State has what it takes to take Aba North/South Federal Constituency to the centre so that they can enjoy the benefits which we of Abia North origin are enjoying from APC led federal government” he said.
According to the lawmaker, virtually everywhere in Abia North has been converted to a construction site, saying it’s like a competition to give the people effective representation. Hon. Chukwu further called on the people of Aba North/South Federal Constituency to align with APC to enjoy the democratic dividends which he said the party has capacity to bring.
Shedding more light on the need to vote for the APC, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu outlined the score cards of the party in his Senatorial zone and the Southeast. According to Kalu, Abia North has witnessed tremendous development in one years and five Months under the APC despite being the first time in office.
Kalu lamented the level of infrastructure decay in the constituency and the state at large, the Chief commended efforts of the former representative late Hon Prestige in uplifting the people.
He said; “The APC has done for our people, the infrastructure in our zone is among the highest in terms of finance. The projects are the second Niger Bridge and the Enugu Port Harcourt express road, the Ariaria Market 9.5 MW gas-based power plant for an uninterrupted power supply was made possible by the APC government.
“All the social investment programs that Abians are receiving from Special Investment and State Focal Person for Micro SMEs Survival Fund of Abia state Government are funds from President Buhari and APC not from PDP and Governor Ikpeazu.
“The Rural Women Grant you received in Abia state are from APC governmentThe N30,000 Artisans and Transport operators support fund came from President Buhari and APC not from Ikpeazu and his PDP the good works of the APC are numerous to mention.
“Don’t be fooled, the Ngwa road is built by the World Bank yet they claim they are the ones funding the project, how can a government that can’t pay salaries build roads? Ohanku road is also being built by the World Bank, Milveton road is a six hundred meters road which is the only road facilities by the PDP government since it came into Government but the road is also funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Kalu urged the people to vote for the APC candidate Hon. Mascot, he assured that the people would witness development if Mascot gets elected as being witnessed by Abia North while assuring them of the commitment of the security agencies to protect lives and property during the election.
The APC team toured the following wards on the first day; ward 4 Igwebuike hall Fari, Ward 5 Avina; ward 6 College Road; ward 9 Hospital road; Ward 8 Kent Clifford; ward 10 Ehi road; ward 11 Etche road.
