Orji Kalu humiliated in Arochukwu as kinsmen vow to stand with Ohuabunwa
* We prefer our son to a stranger – Aro women
By Steve Oko
The political rift between Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North senatorial district deepened weekend as both men clashed at a fund raise outing at Arochukwu, Ohuabunwa’s country home.
The event was the 27th General Assembly and Mass Rally of Nzuko Arochukwu Women’s Wing World Wide organised by Aro women to raise fund for the building of Home for the Elderly and a Skill Acquisition Centre.
According to a local source, Kalu’s wife was the one invited by the women for an award but the former governor apparently wanted to take political advantage of the opportunity and decided to represent her.
Kalu had stormed Obinkita Arochukwu village square, venue of the event with about 70 security personnel including army, police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Civil Defense Corps (NCDC), Federal Road Safety Commission, and local vigilante.
The army of stern -looking security personnel that escorted Kalu to the event made a futile attempt to stop the vehicle conveying the former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament from driving into the arena.
But the gallantry of Ohuabunwa’s security aides and the overwhelming support of his crowd of fans who were solidly on ground cheering him, could not be resisted by Kalu’s men.
The event was literally brought to a halt for a while immediately Ohuabunwa arrived the venue as the crowd erupted with shouts of “Follow Better, our own “.
There was another round of supremacy battle between the duo in the course of the programme following an argument on who should speak first.
Kalu had insisted on delivering his goodwill message last but Ohuabunwa outsmarted him by maintaining that as a son of the soil and Chief host, he would rather prefer to speak last.
But Kalu stired the hornet when he started making boastful remarks in the course of his speech, claiming to be the benefactor of all Abia politicians.
Apparently in his bid to disparage other political heavy weights in the state, Orji claimed that every known politician in the state including the governor were his “boys”.
Kalu further argued that he was the political leader of Abia North while assuring the people that the federal government is committed to the rehabilitation of the Bende -Ohafia -Arochukwu highway.
But apparently infuriated by the derogatory remarks by the former governor against some political elite in Abia North, some youths in the crowd almost shouted him down, warning him to stop insulting their brothers irrespective of their political differences.
The irate youths reminded the former governor that it was his unnecessary insults and muscle flexing with Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that stalled the rehabilitation of the Bende -Arochukwu federal highway already attracted by Ohuabunwa while he was at the House of Representatives.
The angry crowd threatened to embarrass him should he further rain insult on illustrious sons of the zone.
Kalu later announced a donation of N2 million for the Arochukwu women project but the audience however didn’t seem to be very excited.
The event was almost disrupted as shouts of “Ruga senator”, “we need our stolen mandate”, “We don’t want a man with EFCC case” rented the air.
In his remarks, Ohuabunwa said the event was not a political rally and should not be turned into an opportunity to unnecessarily overheat the polity.
He advised the former governor against making derogatory remarks on others just to disparage them.
Ohuabunwa noted that if he were a governor for eight years he would not have come to make a provocative statements before a people whose road he abandoned while in power.
The former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament who is still contesting the outcome of the election with Kalu at the Appeal court assured said Abia North deserved quality representation at the senate and not empty propaganda.
Ohuabunwa highlighted some of his strides in bettering the lots of Aro clan in particular and Abia North in general, promising not to relent in such efforts.
He donated N2.5 million for the project and another N550,000 to the Abuja and home branches of Aro women as well as the organisers of the event and a women cultural group.
Amidst thunderous ovation by the women who shouted “Mao is our son, Aro women cannot abandon their our own”, Kalu stormed out of the arena with his army of security aides.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the Presiddnt-General of the wing, Lady Bright Elekwa said the idea of the proposed home is to provide the elderly adequate care irrespective of whether their children are alive, well to do or othereise.
She argues, “A home for the elderly promotes healthy living and interaction amongst elderly peers, so far as trained caregivers will be available to meet needs with love.”
Recall that the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia had nullifed Kalu’s election and ordered INEC to conduct a supplementary election in eight electoral wards in Arochukwu plus so many other units in Abia North.
The tribunal faulted Kalu’s victory for non compliance with the margin of lead .
Kalu has however appealed the judgement at the court of appeal in Owerri .
Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria. 
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