Sir: I write to express my displeasure and deep disappointment on the seemingly quiet disposition of well-meaning Abians as it concerns the present plight of the senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu. He is a distinguished and illustrious son of Abia whose impact of achievements have been felt not only in the state but also across the nation. It is remarkable that during his eight-year tenure as the governor, Abia State experienced unprecedented unity, peace and progress. In the area of infrastructural development, some of the projects he executed are still visible for everyone to see.
His administrative prowess is second to none. He is an employer of labour, a renowned world-class businessman who has a well established and running companies prior to his becoming a governor with hundreds of employees in his payroll. The vacuum he left as the governor of Abia State is so large that the subsequent regimes have not been able to fill.
He is a man of the people. This is evident again during the last senatorial election in Abia north. It was a landslide victory for him coming from a party that hardly won in the area and defeating his opponent who incidentally was the incumbent at that time.
It is noteworthy at this juncture to recount an incident that took place during his tenure as the governor of Abia State, precisely 1999/2000. Kalu displayed a very rare gesture by visiting students of the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) of Abia State origin. Apart from addressing us with words of encouragement, he also gave us cash. Your guess is as good as mine as to what such visit resulted to. Aside giving us a sense of belonging, it also accorded us a lot of respect from our colleagues from other states. This uncommon gesture is what I termed “humility in service.”
Human nature is devoid of mistakes and this is why I would not disprove the fact that he may have made some mistakes during his tenure as governor. The Bible recorded in the book of Luke where a Jewish leader called our Lord Jesus a good teacher.
Jesus replied, “why do you call me good”? No one is good except God alone. Another Bible reference is in the book of John, where a woman who was caught in the very act of committing adultery and was to be stoned to death according to the law, was brought to Jesus for him to approve of her execution.
Jesus looked at them and said, “whoever among you who have not sinned, let him be the first to cast a stone on this woman. And all of them starting from the eldest to the least having been convicted in their conscience threw away their stones and departed.
Jesus said to the woman, go and sin no more. The Holy book serves as a guide to our everyday life.
He is a bridge-builder. This attribute stands him out and ably recorgnised by our brother in other parts of the country especially our Northern brothers and it is evident in the number of traditional titles he has received from the North.
May I conclude by earnestly entreating well-meaning Abia elite irrespective of differences in their political, ideological inclinations or linings to as a matter of necessity come together to ensure that this illustrious son of ours is freed.
Udemba Kelechi wrote from Lagos.
END
Be the first to comment