Jubilation As Sen. Kalu Maintains 38-Yr-old Philanthropic Gesture To His Community [PHOTOS]

Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has distributed no fewer than 5,000 bags of rice and cash in his Igbere hometown, Bende local government area of Abia State. 

Sen. Kalu, a former governor of Abia State equally reiterated his commitment to sustain the food item and cash distribution to enable the people of the community to enjoy their Yuletide.

Our correspondent gathered that the annual gesture which started in 1984 was personally funded by Sen. Kalu before his sojourn into politics.

Among those who benefitted from the 38-year-old outreach include, Agbo, Eziama, Amakpo, Amaorji, Okafia, Ohumola, Amaiyi, Ibina-ukwu, Ama-ukwu, Ama-ofufe, Amankalu, Ibinanta, Umuisi, all in Igbere, Bende LGA of Abia State.

Addressing the jubilant crowd in his native Igbere dialect, the former Senate Chief Whip reminded the people that the endeavour began in 1986, stressing that its sustenance proves that it has nothing to do with political interests but his love for his community.

Kalu explained that despite initially distributing food and cash to the community to celebrate the annual Igbere Cultural Festival,  he won’t be deterred from continuing with his usual l practice of food distribution to celebrate the Yuletide season.

Kalu likened the thirteen (13) communities which comprise 30,000 people to live like “one big family” where no one is allowed to be left hungry.

Kalu sued for harmony amongst the locals;

“There’s no Christmas season that we’ve had that I failed to distribute food and cash, it is from my heart.  During the cultural festival, we distributed bags of rice and the sum of 300 hundred thousand naira.  But that doesn’t mean I won’t give you these food items which is my usual practice.

“I urge you all to be your brother’s keeper,  also beware that these Items are not for the traditional rulers,  I have a separate package for them when I meet with them. 

On his personal official social media handles, Kalu noted that the gesture will also support the food security programme of the present at Federal Government administration as well as cushion the effects of the economic hardship in the country.

Torrents of gratitude were heaped on Senator Kalu by a Youth Leader of the Igbere community who spoke on behalf of the locals. The Youth Leader identified as Chimuanya Onwubiko who expressed that Orji Kalu is “God sent” while commending his zeal to sustain the over 30-year-old initiative.

He said; “We don’t take these generous gestures for granted,  words can’t describe how happy we are with Senator Kalu for sustaining this Legacy, it’s a magnanimous show of Love beyond politics which shows that he truly loves us and we also love him. 

“Aside from the infrastructure and empowerment he has brought to our community right from his days as Governor and now Senator,  he has continued to add value to our lives with his yearly Christmas and New Year gifts. We are very grateful and shall continue to stand by him no matter what”.