Abia North, now laughing stock in senate , Abia monarchs lament
By Steve Oko
The traditional ruler of Amaekwu Lokpanta in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, HRH Eze Thomas Obike, has accused the Senator representing Abia North senatorial zone, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of ” turning the zone into a laughing stock at the senate”.
The monarch who made the outburst when the immediate past senator representing the zone, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, went to commission a primary health care centre he built in the community, expressed shock at some of Kalu’s utterances on national issues.
Similar view was shared by his Achara Autonomous Community counterpart, HRH Eze Celestine Onwuka, who expressed disappointed over the comments credited to Kalu on the controversial Ruga settlement.
Eze Onwuka also spoke when Ohuabunwa went to commission another primary health care centre sited in the community.
He said that Kalu’s anti -Igbo position and remarks on Ruga and some other boiling national issues had thrown suspicion on him as Igbo traitor.
Ohuabunwa is still challenging Kalu’s victory at the Election Petitions Tribunal.
The monarch said Kalu’s utterances were not only embarrassing but a total disgrace to the entire Abia North district, insisting that he is not speaking for the people.
The former Governor had claimed that the cattle market his administration relocated from Umuahia to Lokpanta in 2002 was Ruga, a comment that has sparked protests and angry reactions from the people.
He also reportedly said he would vote in favour of Ruga despite the vehement rejection of the policy by Igbo and other Southern leaders.
The monarchs regretted that Kalu instead of speaking for his constituents has rather chosen to defend Northern interest.
They described Kalu as a “temporary occupant of the seat and holder of a stolen mandate which he is desperately trying to retain by turning into a spokesman for the North “.
” How can he say he brought Ruga to Abia when he was Governor? I’m not sure he knows the difference between Ruga and cattle market.
” The other day he asked the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria who came to the Senate for confirmation to send laws to the senate that would help strengthen the judiciary. Does the CJN make laws?
” Chai! Kalu has made Abia North a caricature in just about one month at the Senate. “
Both monarchs thanked Ohuabunwa for fulfilling his campaign promises “even when he is temporarily out of office “, saying that such quality is rare among politicians.
Eze Obike said he never believed a government project could be initiated and delivered in one month as was the case in the health centre.
Obike on his own said Ohuabunwa was the only politician to attract any government project in the community which he said was abandoned by government.
Responding, Ohuabunwa said the projects executed by the Primary Health Care Development Agency were borne out of his passion to improve the health of his constituents especially rural dwellers.
He explained that the first phase of the project which was building of the structure had been completed, assuring that the second phase which equipping the centres will soon commence.
The former Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health Care promised to ensure the timely delivery of the second phase, expressing faith that the outcome of the tribunal will be in his favour.
One of the illustrious sons of Achara community and the Deputy National Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths, Dr. Kingsley Dozie, applauded Ohuabunwa for attracting the project to the community, saying it will help in saving the locals from many avoidable deaths.
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