Sen. Orji Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate has said the All Progressives Congress, APC, will take over Abia State from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general election.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia who said this while speaking to newsmen in Umuahia said he will use his position as the chairman of the party’s caucus to wrestle power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
He said that the party was already doing well under the leadership of Gov Hope Uzodinma in Imo and will employ new strategies to penetrate the remaining southeast states in 2023.
The former Governor also reiterated his resolve to ensure a stronger nation.
“My duty is to continue preaching about the unity of the nation. My duty is to continue pleading with our people about religious tolerance and to continue preaching that Nigeria should be a strong one,” he said.
Kalu, while reacting to his rousing reception in Aba on Monday, during a Requiem Mass in honor of his late friend, Chief Anthony Enukeme (Tonimas), said it was because the people believed in his leadership.
He said, “Forget about the newspaper propaganda, the people believed in what I had done for them.
“They had free education, their pensions, salaries, and leave allowances were paid.
“The people believe that whoever I will bring will do a better job.”
According to him, when you see all those boys that are following me, they know that their future is guaranteed under the leadership of any political party I belong to.
Kalu, who was being likened to a Biblical Joseph following his recent incarceration said he had simply remained as “Orji Uzor Kalu that is ready to give the leadership of justice and fairness.”
Newsmen report that Kalu had returned to the Senate in June, after spending six months in jail on allegation of corruption.
Kalu, who had been serving a 12-year sentence, was released from jail on June 2, 2020, following an order by the Federal High court.
He was convicted for embezzling N7.65 billion belonging to the Abia government.
The Supreme Court, however, ordered a retrial after it nullified his conviction.
