By Kenneth Udeh, Umuahia
The ongoing ward-to-ward consultation and engagement tour by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu across Abia North Senatorial District continued to attract large crowds, as residents of three wards in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, defied heavy rainfall to receive the former Abia State Governor on Saturday.
Kalu visited ABSU Umuanyi Ward 10, Achara-Mbaugwu Ward 7, and Mbaugwu Ward 19, where electorates ,residents and community leaders turned out in large numbers to interact with him and express their support for his return to the Senate in 2027.
Among those who turned out to receive the Senator were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Reality Organisation, OUK Movement, and other solidarity groups, who joined residents and community leaders in expressing their support for Kalu’s continued representation of Abia North in the Senate.
Despite the heavy downpour, the people remained at the venues, with community members using the interaction to commend Kalu for projects and empowerment initiatives they said had positively impacted their communities since his election to the Senate in 2019.
A major issue raised during the engagements was the need for additional accessible roads and schools across the communities.
The requests came alongside avalanche of praises for the infrastructure projects and human-capital interventions attributed to Kalu since assuming office.
Speaking at one of the wards, Hon. Damian Igbokwe commended Kalu for what he described as his visible impact on the community since 2019, while also appealing for more projects.
“I am standing here today not because of any political affiliation. Orji Kalu is our party; anywhere he says we shall go, we will go, because we trust him that he will never lead us astray.
“Let me thank you, Most Distinguished, for all the works that you have done. Your works speak for themselves. They are not what you use your mouth to tell people; it is a matter of ‘go and see”.
“We see the infrastructure that you have done, including our children, brothers and sisters that you have sent outside to go and study at zero cost. We are very grateful and we ask for more to be done”.
“Like the last time, my people have all decided massively for you and President Bola Tinubu, so that you can consolidate and continue your good works ”.
The ward engagements also provided an opportunity for Kalu to listen directly to residents and community leaders on their needs and identify areas requiring further intervention.
Responding, Kalu thanked the people for turning out despite the rainfall, stressing that the exercise was more than a campaign tour.
“I am very grateful for your turnout. For me, this is more than a campaign; it is about the project and ward tour to know the impact of what we have done and what more can be done.
“Leadership is all about service and nothing else. The end goal of politics is to see that our people have better lives by providing them with the basic needs they need to thrive as a community.
“Though I am a lawmaker whose major duties are to make laws and conduct legislative oversight, I have gone beyond that. I have heard all the areas of concern, and we shall add to what must be done”.
Kalu said the concerns raised during the engagements would inform further interventions in the communities, while thanking residents for expressing their support for his bid to return to the Senate.
He also called on the people to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, arguing that the administration would require another term to extend its policies and programmes from the national level to the grassroots.
The continued ward tour is expected to provide Kalu with further opportunities to engage directly with constituents, review the impact of existing interventions and hear fresh demands from communities across Abia North.
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