Residents of Isikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State have pledged support for the re-election of the senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, describing him as the best senator to have represented the state.
The residents spoke on Monday as Kalu continued his ward-to-ward tour of the local government, where he presented his stewardship, listened to community concerns and sought continued partnership with the people.
Monday’s engagements took the former Abia State governor to Mgbelu Umunnekwu, Amiyi Obilohia, Umunnekwu Agbo, Amiyi Uhu and Amaibo, where community leaders, women, youths and supporters received him.
At Amiyi Obilohia, residents turned out in large numbers despite the downpour, while similar gatherings were recorded at other stops during the tour.
Some residents who spoke with our correspondent said their support for Kalu was based on what they described as visible projects across Abia North, particularly roads, classroom blocks, educational materials, scholarships, business support and skills development programmes.
Dr Lilian Obenwa, an APC chieftain in Isikwuato, said Kalu had given the people reasons to support his return to the National Assembly.
“We are returning Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to the Senate because, for us, he is the best senator Abia State has produced. This is not about sentiment. We can point to what he has done in our communities,” she said.
Obenwa said residents had benefited from classroom projects, educational materials, road interventions and human capital development programmes.
“When you build classrooms for our children, provide educational materials, give scholarships to young people, support businesses and send our youths for training, you are touching families directly.
“Senator Kalu has also given Abia North a strong voice in Abuja. Our message is simple: continue the good work and we will continue this partnership,” she said.
Three schools in Isikwuato — Central School Amune-Ovim, Amiyi Uhu Central School and Umerem Central School — were among facilities renovated and equipped through projects linked to Kalu’s representation and commissioned in 2024.
Prince John Ihemelandu, who also spoke with our correspondent, said the senator’s regular visits to communities had strengthened his relationship with constituents.
“Representation is not only about going to Abuja. The people must know their representative and be able to tell him what they need. Senator Kalu comes home, enters the communities and listens to the people,” he said.
According to Ihemelandu, the ward tour had provided communities with an opportunity to acknowledge projects already delivered while presenting additional needs to the senator.
Chief Johnson Azubuike said Kalu’s constituency record should be assessed across the five local government areas of Abia North rather than on isolated projects.
“Go to Arochukwu, Bende, Ohafia, Isikwuato and Umunneochi. You will find projects associated with his representation. We still have challenges and we are telling him about them, but we must also acknowledge the work that has been done,” Azubuike said.
He added that communities expected more attention to rural roads, schools, employment opportunities and support for small businesses.
Another resident, Mrs Mary Ikwuagwu, said Kalu’s interventions in education were particularly important to women and families.
“For mothers, when you improve the school where our children learn or provide materials that reduce what parents have to spend, we understand the value immediately,” she said.
“We have also seen young people receiving scholarships, training and other opportunities. We want more of these opportunities because our young people need education, skills and jobs.”
During the tour, Kalu told residents that his engagements were intended to give an account of his representation and hear directly from the communities on areas requiring further intervention.
He spoke about classroom blocks, educational materials, scholarships, business support, skills acquisition and international training opportunities facilitated for constituents, saying development should ultimately improve the lives of ordinary people.
The senator also acknowledged that several challenges remained across the communities and pledged to continue pursuing interventions.
Kalu’s ongoing Isikwuato tour follows earlier visits to Oguduasa, Avuvu, Nunya, Isuamawu in Eluama, Umubiala and Otamkpa, where residents similarly raised infrastructure and development needs. Recent reports from the tour said communities had commended his road, education and human capital interventions while asking for additional projects.
Earlier in the tour, residents in parts of Uturu also turned out despite heavy rainfall to engage the senator and canvass further improvements to roads and schools.
Kalu told the communities that their support would increase rather than reduce the responsibility on him to deliver.
He said the relationship between him and the people of Abia North should remain a “partnership that works”, built around performance, accountability and constant engagement with constituents.
“The confidence you continue to repose in me will only push me to work harder and do even more for our people,” Kalu said.
