By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
A political group in Abia State under the auspices of the Concerned Abians Development Initiative (CADI), has endorsed the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, as its consensus candidate for the 2023 Abia North Senatorial election.
This is contained in a statement by Orji Kalu’s media office and made available to THISDAY in Abuja yesterday.
It explained that the Leader of the group, Dr Lawrence Ubani, declared support on behalf of the group members in Umuahia, the state capital.
It stated that the entire stakeholders, various youth groups, traditional rulers, and community leaders in the state were well pleased with the choice of Kalu as the consensus candidate for the Abia North Senatorial District election.
The statement also explained that an international businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Embassy Wine World, Emeka Bassey Ekpe, had declared support for the re-election of Kalu
Ubani, according to the statement said, “The group, therefore, calls on other candidates in the Abia North Senatorial race to accept the choice of Kalu for the interest of peace and development of the state and withdraw their aspirations to honour the decision of the leaders of the state.
“The group equally commends Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for redefining the business of law-making by attracting dividends of democracy to Abia North Senatorial District and Abia State in general. What you’re doing in Abia North is unprecedented in the history of Abia State.
Kalu has attracted development across the three Senatorial District. If others achieved half of what you’re doing today, Abia North and indeed Abia State would be first in the road network in Nigeria.”
Ubani, who is a renowned medical doctor, further called on other candidates in the race to accept the choice of Kalu in the interest of peace, unity and progress of the state.
He, however, maintained that what Kalu needed is the corporation of political stakeholders to bring more development to the Senatorial District and Abia State in general.
“This is the time to shun bitterness and unite for the overall development of the state. We have seen that the political atmosphere is filled with bitterness, acrimony, and jealousy.
“We must set them aside, unite and support a performing lawmaker like Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to bring more development to our state. Those contesting should immediately step down for down.
“The right thing to do is to commend Senator Kalu for what he is doing and even beg him to run in 2023. We are using this opportunity to tell his opponents to all downstep and join hands with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to bring more development to our state,” the statement said,”
The Ohafia-born businessman, the statement added, also promised to mobilise voters for Kalu, who is the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District.
According to Ekpe, Kalu’s performance in the Senate is unprecedented in the history of the state.
He lauded Kalu for attracting quality projects to Abia North Senatorial District, urging the people of the zone to unite and re-elect overwhelmingly.
He said, “Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has performed well as a Senator and his performance is not in doubt.
“We have had senators before in our zone but none of them achieved half of what Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has done so far. This is an opportunity to announce my support for re-election,” he said.
