Governor Orji and Kalu war: former Governor Kalu withdraws from Abia senatorial race

Former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has dropped his senatorial ambition.

The former governor, in a letter, entitled: “Withdrawal from Abia North Senatorial District Race”, and addressed to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu, Kalu premised his decision on personal sacrifice to save Abia PDP from crisis.

The former governor stated: “Rather than be an intractable issue in Abia chapter of our great party, I would rather subordinate personal ambition for party cohesion…

“I hereby formally withdraw from the bid to represent the good people of Abia North in the Senate next year.

“I wish to state unequivocally, however, that I remain a member of the PDP, and a loyal one at that. I will assiduously work for the victory of the party at all levels, and carry out any assignment as prescribed by the leadership of the party. The PDP will continue to enjoy my goodwill and best wishes.”

Kalu, in the letter dated November 24, 2014, expressed consternation over  the arm-twisting tactics of Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, in the choice of aspirants for elective offices on PDP platform.

He said: “In a democracy, this is downright outrageous, if not scandalous. And all the aspirants into these positions, not favoured by the governor, have collectively protested to the party national headquarters.

“The congresses to elect delegates did not hold in Abia State. The names were just written by the governor and his collaborators. This has forced many good people out of our party, and they have since defected into other political parties to pursue their ambitions.”

He further expressed regret that Governor Orji “deliberately allowed eminent Abia citizens” to resign their positions to vie for elective positions, when he knew, ahead of time, that he had a candidate in mind.

Among those who resigned their positions to seek for PDP ticket,  according to the former governor,‎ are Dr. Alex Otti, former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank; former Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, two ranking senators, Nkechi Nwogu (Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas) and Enyinnaya Abaribe (Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Information) as well as Ambassador Okey Emuchey, Nigerian ambassador to South Africa.

Kalu said: “When Governor Orji was to be elected the first time in 2007, everyone knew where I stood three years before then, that he was my anointed candidate.

“There was absolutely no ambiguity, unlike now that he has allowed these people to lose their positions and resources chasing shadows. It is quite obvious that Governor Orji’s plan is to bring everybody down.”

He further alerted the party’s NWC of the grave consequences of the actions of the governor in the forthcoming general elections.

“Mr. Chairman, it is needless to say that this holds very grave consequences, not only for our party in Abia State, but also for the electoral fortunes of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is running for a second term in office,” Kalu said.

• See full letter on Page 9 of Daily Dun Today.