From Ismail Omipidan, Abuja
Lawmakers are generally expected to make laws. That is their primary responsibility. However, beyond lawmaking, Nigerians, especially their immediate constituents, inundate them with a wide range of demands, from personal requests to community-based needs. This explains why many Nigerians often question or measure a lawmaker’s performance by the number of projects they attract and deliver while in office.
For Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, such questions may be unnecessary, as his footprints are evident in the several strategic and impactful projects he has facilitated for the good people of Abia North Senatorial District.
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The most significant and deliberate of his interventions in recent times has got to be ongoing construction of a world-class cashew processing factory, which is designed to reduce poverty and boost economic growth in the area.
The cashew processing factory, the single largest of its kind in the region, is projected to create over 5,000 jobs when completed and fully operational. Designed to handle shelling, roasting, baking and packaging of cashew nuts, the facility is set to boost local agricultural value chains, particularly in cashew-producing areas such as Isuikwuato and Umunneochi.
Since his return to the Senate in 2019, Senator Kalu has facilitated the construction of more than 140 rural roads connecting remote farming communities to major markets. Among these are the Ndi Orieke–Ohafia and Amankalu–Abiriba roads, along with several others across Bende, Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, and Umunneochi local government areas. These road projects have improved transportation, cut post-harvest losses, and increased farmers’ incomes.
In the education sector, Senator Kalu has sustained the legacy he started as governor of the state. He has overseen the construction of over 130 new schools, the renovation of more than 100 others, and the distribution of free educational materials, including school bags, uniforms, and books to students.
Politically, he has also played his politics well, leveraging on his old and new alliances to ensure that the South-East is not shortchanged. For the new political entrants, Senator Kalu’s deft political moves and perchant for delivering dividends of democracy to his people did not start today.
He was the first Nigerian governor to earn the rare title of “Action Governor” during his first term in office from 1999 to 2003. Interestingly, it was former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who would later become one of his tormentors, that first described Kalu in such glowing terms, owing to his exploits as governor of Abia State at the time.
Kalu was also one of over 20 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who rallied behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to almost stop Obasanjo from securing the PDP’s second-term ticket. Senior party leaders prevailed on the governors to back down and Obasanjo eventually got the ticket. Immediately he returned to office for another term, Obasanjo drew the battle line with his perceived political foes, including Kalu.
Kalu’s troubles with Obasanjo deepened when he emerged as one of the strongest voices against his desire to get a third-term. Unlike a few other governors who opposed the project only at night, but canvassed support for it in the day time, for fear of Obasanjo, Kalu boldly and consistently campaigned against it, day and night.
He mobilised men, resources, and his international connections to lobby African and global leaders, urging them to prevail on Obasanjo not to plunge Nigeria into another avoidable civil strife.
Displaying rare courage at a time when many feared to confront Obasanjo, Kalu not only opposed him but also contested against his preferred candidate in the 2007 presidential election. Running on the platform of the newly formed Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Kalu came third, behind Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), securing over five million votes.
Remarkably, within just months of its formation, the PPA also won two governorship seats in Abia and Imo states, producing Chief Theodore Amaefule Orji and Chief Ikedi Ohakim as governors, respectively. Although both later defected to the PDP, the victories underscored Kalu’s political influence and grassroots reach.
The Abia State governorship victory in that 2007 election was particularly phenomenal, as the candidate, Orji, was not available for campaign, during the electioneering. He was held by the EFCC, an action believed to have been orchestrated by the then presidency to ensure that the PDP candidate, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, won the governorship election. Yet, Kalu secured victory for Orji at the poll against all odds, a testament of his political structure and resilience.
Despite enjoying immunity at the time, several unsuccessful attempts were made to have Kalu arrested outside Nigeria. Obasanjo’s efforts, however, fell flat largely because foreign leaders recognised that Kalu was being politically targeted. Kalu himself revealed this on Monday, March 20, 2017, during a dinner in Washington, D.C., hosted by another illustrious Nigerian, Chief Daniel Eke.
As senator representing Abia North Senatorial district, Kalu has discharged his legislative responsibilities creditably and without blemish. Little wonder, pundits suggest that returning him to the Red Chamber for a record third term is worth it. and would not be a bad idea.
The world over, experienced lawmakers are preferred over neophytes. Thus, Kalu as a third term Senator post 2027 general elections, will be in a good stead to compete favourably for the leadership of the red chamber.
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