Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has called on Nigerians to shun hate, imbibe the spirit of love and seek national unity.
According to the former Abia governor, this is needed in the country now than never, insisting that it is the only way the country can make meaningful progress.
Speaking on first Sunday of 2021 during a special Mass held at Mater Misericordia Catholic Church, Umuzomgbo Ihechiowa, Arochukwu, the federal lawmaker stated that the recent release of the Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Owerri archdiocese, Moses Chikwe who was kidnapped a week ago was a product of divine intervention.
The clergy was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 27, in Owerri, the capital of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria.
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Kalu while expressing his happiness over the clergy’s freedom remarked that the ugly incident informed his decision to protest by boycotting the recent meeting of the All Progressive’s Congress held in Owerri.
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On the state of infrastructures in Abia-North, he explained that the delays in the execution of some of the road projects in the community was a result of the impasse between the Senate and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Kalu said; “The contracts for the construction of the roads in this community has already been awarded, however, the project is being funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the commission was having running battles with the National Assembly.
“Now the issues have been resolved I assure you all the works will soon commence on those roads in the next few months. HRH Linus and the community should not bother themselves, I assure them that their roads will be constructed.”
Recalling his stay as the governor of the state between 1999-2007, Kalu said, “When I was governor of this state we never owed workers and pensioners. I assure you that it shall be well again in our dear state. As Governor we dealt with criminal elements, there was nothing like kidnapping in fact you dare not kidnap you cannot even try it because I will deal with you ruthlessly. My duty was governor was not to protect lives and property; we flushed criminals out of Aba, Umuahia, and other parts of the state.
He continued “Today being the first day is a good day to preach on the need for all Nigerians to love themselves, life should be about love and cherishing one another. We need to be united right from our families to the state and to the entire country.
“I also want to thank God for the release of our Bishop that was kidnapped two weeks ago. It’s disheartening; I boycotted the political meeting in Owerri in protest of the kidnapping of the Bishop, now that he has been released I can resume attending meetings. The height of this kind of crime is ordinary citizens, men of God, and a whole Catholic Bishop are being kidnapped.
Kalu also emphasised that despite being a Senator whose main responsibility is to make laws, he has embarked on the construction of infrastructure in his Senatorial zone which is the duty of the executives.
Earlier in his remark the Presiding priest Rev. Fr. Samuel Okondi rendered his gratitude to Senator Kalu for his interventions in the infrastructural and political development of the community.
“On behalf of the church community, I am thanking God in different ways. I found it hard to believe when I heard that he was incarcerated, I didn’t believe it because he’s my friend but we thank God today that he’s out.
“We want to thank you especially for the good things you are doing for our people, during your tenure as Governor of this state we witnessed enormous progress asides from infrastructure you appointed our sons and daughters as commissioners for education, chieftaincy and Secretary to the state government said the Parish priest.
Rev Samuel commended Senator Kalu on the fulfillment of his electoral promises.
He said “Your Excellency Sir, when you awarded the contract in Achara to Ukpo, you made this arrangement before the court sentence. However, you were there when the gutters were dug and the work was still going on. People did not believe it will not happen, they thought it was just politics. I want to assure you that we are solidly behind you in all your political endeavours.
