Orji Uzor Kalu dumps PDP, kicks off senatorial campaign in Abia North … Canvasses votes for Jonathan also

Former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has formally kicked off his campaign to clinch Abia North Senatorial District’s seat on the platform of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

His campaign train took off from his Igbere residence on Monday at exactly 9.25 am, headed to Uturu, where he visited seven wards and later to Isuikwuato, where he visited three wards.

It was a journey through familiar terrain, as at every point, people would stop, hail, wave and raise their hands up in prayer, thanking God that he has finally answered their calls to serve them.

In the branded vehicle he rode in was his picture and that of President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he also campaigned for, urging his supporters to vote for him and the president. He was campaigning on the platform of PPA, a party, he formed in 2006.

He assured his supporters that a vote for him and Jonathan would bring back days of glory to Abia North people in particular, and Nigeria in general.

He told them that before this time, people had been misinforming them that he was not contesting for any position, but that he had come to them to tell them that he was contesting for the senatorial seat of Abia North.

Dr. Kalu, who noted the people’s confidence in his service, expressed optimism that they would want him to represent them against the evil machinations of his detractors.

At Abia State University gate, students, Okada riders, traders and residents stopped his entourage until he stepped down from his bus, walked some distance with them amidst jubilation and shook hands with them.

Dr. Kalu’s first port of call at exactly 10.24am was Nvuruvu Uturu Ward 9, where cannons were fired to receive him.

The ward Chairman, Chukwuma Ogele, who spoke on behalf of the people, told the senatorial candidate that the only development they had seen was during his tenure as governor 16 years ago, recalling that he donated the civic centre to them when he was in power.

Responding, Dr. Kalu pleaded with them to be patient,  promising that the days of glory would come back to them if elected as their senator. From Nvuruvu, he travelled to Isu na Uzo, Ward 2, Akpukpo Ward 8, Ndundu Ward 18 and Achara Ward 7.         Other places he visited were Ugwuele, Ward 19 and ABSU Umuanyi Ward 10.

In all these wards, the reception was the same as most of them welcomed the former governor with cannon shots.

Addressing the people, Kalu said: “I have come out because you asked me to come out. You know that things have gone wrong in Abia State. I decided to run for Senate to make things right again. The seat I want to contest for may appear small to you because I am sure that you are expecting me to contest for the presidency. We have to start from somewhere.

“My very good friend, Goodluck Jonathan, is the one contesting for that position. You have to vote for him and also vote for me. Those that should vote for me and the president, are not only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or PPA members, but also members of All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party and other parties in this country. So, I have not come here to visit only members of one party, but members of other parties that exist, because I know that, wherever you are, your love for Orji Kalu will  propel you to vote for him.

“This is because all of you are my brothers, sisters, friends, relations and well wishers. If I am not related to you in one way, I am related to you in the other way. At least, I was your governor for eight years and we never fell apart until I left.

“I am not the type of politician that will divide brothers or tell a brother not to go to the house of his brother. Politics is about uniting people and not dividing them. I bring message of love and oneness to you all. I am not here to castigate anybody, but to make statements of fact. How can people be creating hatred among brothers? The Bible did not tell us to hate each other, but to be our brothers’ keepers.”

From Uturu, Kalu visited Amiyi Obiloha Ward 5, Mgbelu Umunnekwu Ward 11 and Umunnekwu Agbo Ward 6, before his campaign train departed to Camp Neya.