- Says: We’re still one family
The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Orji, has prevailed on the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to take his rightful position in the State’s politics.
The Speaker is the son of the former governor of Abia State current senator for Abia Central Senatorial District, Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji.
Speaker Orji said regardless of their different political platforms, it is only proper for Senator Kalu to take his rightful position as the father of all in the State.
He recalled how Kalu worked hard to become governor in 1999, acknowledging that without the former, he and his father (TA) would not be where they are today.
“Whatever I am today is because of you; whatever my father is today, it is because of you. But I am sure you must have known Abia State better now, and that is why I brought my uncles here to show you that I am here with all my heart.
“These are elderly men from my community to show you that I came here to pay you allegiance as our leader,” Speaker Orji said.
According to him, the current political leaders in Abia State are all products of Kalu’s political family, regretting that some had made a few mistakes along the line.
He said: “Now is the time for the family to stay together.”
He continued: “We are not in competition with you for leadership. You are the leader. In the heat of everything, you are the leader. That leader means a lot. You are leading us. Forget about political platform.”
Earlier, the senior Orji (TA), who succeeded Kalu as governor in 2007, visited the Senate Chief Whip, to felicitate with him after his release from a wrongful incarceration at the correctional facility in Abuja.
Responding, Kalu thanked the younger Orji for the uncommon visit, declaring that he has forgiven everybody, adding that he bears no grudge against anyone.
“I want to thank Mr. Speaker for this uncommon visit. We are one family. Your father will tell you that I bear no grudge.
“Your two uncles would also tell you that when I was governor, I never bore grudges against anybody. Ask your father, even when something happened, I used to tell him. I will say no, no, no, no. He will say no; he will come with Uzodinma Opara and say let us go and fight them. I would say no, leave them; that our fight is in the hands of God. My land in Igbere and your land, Ibeku, are witnesses. I never discussed your father (TA).”
He continued: “My younger brother was your father’s Chief of Staff. For one day, he never discussed your father with me, not even a second. He never discussed your father with any member of our family because he always told me that he was his boss and that the best he could do was for his boss and I to go back together as one family.
“So, I want to thank you for this visit. We are in a new era. I have forgiven everybody that offended me. I am not saying some people, I am saying everybody. I have said this to Mr. President; I have said this to our National Working Committee; I have said this to the Chairman of my party, the APC; I have said this to the Senate President and I have said this to fellow senators. I have forgiven everybody because my going into incarceration was a lesson for me and it was the will of God.
“I bear no grudges, even about the judge, Justice Idris. His father was a very close friend to this house, Justice Kutigi, may his soul rest in peace. He was coming to this house until his death. So, I bear no grudges against anybody. But I give glory to God that I was able to go there. If I didn’t go there, I could have died,” Kalu said.
Speaker Orji was accompanied on the visit by Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, a former Deputy Chief of Staff, Abia State; Chief Godfrey Onyemobi, Abia State Chairman, Elders Council, All Progressives Congress (APC); Hon Benjamin Kalu, a member representing Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Reps; a member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, representing Bende State Constituency
On that group was also Hon Mascot Uzor Kalu, a former Chief of Staff, Abia State.