After two failed attempts, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu was eventually elected into the Senate to represent Abia North senatorial district in the 9th senate. Sam Obinna Ibe writes.
Third time of asking
The former governor of Abia state defeated the incumbent, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the PDP, after securing 31,801 votes as against his closest rival’s 20,203 votes, while Dr Ogba Onuoha of APGA polled 11,410 votes, which was not enough to trouble Kalu and stop his stride to victory.
Since leaving office as governor, Kalu had for two consecutive times sought the mandate of the people as their lawmaker, but both went amiss. The election of February 23rd was therefore his third time of asking to represent the people at the red chambers. This time his effort yielded dividends.
Since the result was declared by the electoral umpire in Ohafia, zonal collation center for Abia North in the state, the Igbere-born former governor is now senator-elect, tongues have been wagging as to what his emergence portends for the people of Abia North and by extension the state.
Though his defeated opponent from PDP Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has called for the result to be declared inconclusive on account of irregularities that is against the electoral guidelines of the INEC, but some well meaning people from the zone and the state have advised the Arochukwu-born senator to swallow the humble pie and accept defeat in good faith in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
Implication for Abia North
As it is now, there has been divided opinion given the implications of Orji Uzor Kalu’s win. Whereas some sections of the senatorial district in particular and Abia state in general are of the opinion that the victory of Kalu is a welcome development both to the people of the zone, Abia state and Nigeria as a whole, some have seen beyond that and look forward to his robust representation of the people. However, others felt otherwise, especially the state ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state that the result was rigged in his favour.
Speaking in an interview with Blueprint in Umuahia, Honourable Maduka Okoro, the media aide to senator-elect said that the implication of his principal’s victory is that he will attract greater political dividends of democracy to the people of Abia North as never seen before.
Okoro added that when he was governor for two terms he attracted numerous developmental projects to Abia and empowered so many Abians. Today as senator- elect, his zone will benefit immensely given the wealth of experience which will also affect positively the entire people of the state.
The media aide further noted that newly elected senator is going to be the new face of Abia state and Ndigbo in particular. “In fact, the outspoken former governor should, going by his kind of person and disposition for the Igbo interest, be the new face of Nigeria given his pedigree.”
He pointed out that when he was the governor the then President Olusegun Obasanjo called him ‘Action Governor’ because of his aggressive disposition for projects something that made Abia state a construction site. Now that he has won the senatorial seat and by the time President Muhammadu will be sworn-in for second term, Buhari will no doubt nicknamed him “action senator” adding that Orji Uzor Kalu is going to add greater value to the emerging 9th Senate which will inaugurated June this year.
The former Senior Special Assistant called on the incumbent senator Mao to accept his defeat in good faith and congratulate his brother senator-elect rather than resort to unnecessary sentiments, which would detract and derail Kalu’s quest to further attract development projects to the state.
On his part, Mr Charles Okoronkwo from Item in Abia North said that the people are happy because Dr Kalu is the man of the people noting that in 2015 he won but was robbed of victory. He said the people are happy because today his victory has brought renewed hope to the people from the zone.
He further noted that Kalu will now bring development to Abia North which he said has eluded them in the hands of the incumbent senator representing them and others before him.
It could be recalled that the influence of the Kalu and the governorship the APC governorship candidate, Dr Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah, has made the APC to sweep the whole Abia North National Assembly seats except in Arochukwu Ohafia where the PDP won.
The APC captured the senatorial seat, Bende federal constituency, Isuikwato/ Umunneochi federal constituency, a feat that could not have been imagined in 2015.
Thus, Abia North is now in joyful mood over the victory of Kalu as senator-elect on the premise that a Daniel has finally come to judgement. Scores of Abians spoken to said the master strategist as Kalu is fondly called as been winning election in the zone but always rigged out at the end of the day.
“But this time around, he may have learnt the rigging strategies and devised means of countering them little wonder he came out in flying colours”.
Kalu like Akpabio in 2015?
Against known provisions of the standing rules of the national assembly, a first-timer Godswill Akpabio was made the PDP’s Minority Leader, a position meant for a ranking senator who must have served in leadership position in the NASS. But Akpabio by the consensus of the PDP was elevated and made a ranking senator even though was never a lawmaker but a two-term governor of Akwa Ibom state.
Some are beginning to hope that perhaps Kalu could enjoy similar treatment having served a two-term governor as well. But will it sail through?
