Stop insulting Kalu, group cautions Ohuabunwa

A cross-section of traders of Abia State origin in Lagos on Monday cautioned the embattled Senator representing Abia North, Mr. Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over some purported negative comments he made and published in a few online news platforms on the personality of eminent businessman and a two-term governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu.
It will be recalled that recently the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri headed by Justice G. Mbaba nullified the election of Ohuabunwa of the PDP and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh poll within 90 days after the judgment.
Kalu is the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) candidate for the re-run election.
According to the group in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Emenike Ike, the Chief Executive Officer of Topclass Trading Company, Kalu’s continued contributions to national development especially through his vast business interests in real estate, shipping, media and publishing, hospitality, banking and finance, insurance, trading among others is not only commendable but remain evergreen in the history of Nigeria.
Ike said: “It is rather unfortunate that in the name of politics some unpopular and non entities can look into the face of successful people and insult them. It is indeed sad!
“Kalu is a renowned business mogul, a philanthropist par excellence and an astute politician who has over the years sustained his name globally in business, politics and humanity. He is one of the few Nigerian businesspersons from a humble beginning as a trader, who has built a business empire through hard work, resilience and dedication. His conglomerate, SLOK Group, is a success story, having established over 28 operating companies including SLOK Shipping, SLOK Farms, SLOK Energy, SLOK Trading, SLOK Nigeria Ltd, Sun Heaven Hotels and Resort, The Sun Publishing Nigeria LTd, Bende Export-Import Ltd, The Sun Publishing Ghana Ltd, First International Bank and International Insurance Company (with branches in Sierra-Leona, Gambia, Liberia, DRC and Gambia), Happy home Furniture Ltd, SLOK –TORO Technologies Ltd and many others.
“As a global investor, Kalu sits on the board of top-rated companies globally where he has substantial stakes.
“In politics, he is a household name. He served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 1992 to 1993, and held two key positions of deputy chair of the Finance and Internal Affairs Committees. He moved the famous Dual-Citizenship Rights Bill in the House. He was elected the Governor of the mineral-rich Abia State in 1999 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a political party he co-founded and financed with others. His achievements as Governor of Abia State (1999-2007) astounded, even, his most vitriolic critics as the then President Obasanjo named him “Action Governor” within six months of his inauguration owing to the massive road construction, free medical and free health schemes and other projects he executed.
“In 2007, Kalu contested for President, Federal Republic of Nigeria under a new political party Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) founded by him. Even though he did not win the presidential race, the party won the governorship positions in Abia and Imo states.
“As a philanthropist, his milk of kindness knows no bounds. Aside creating employment and wealth for Nigerians through his business entities, he is known for supporting the lessprivileged by providing financial support through different platforms including the Orji Kalu Foundation. The NGO has received accolades for its giant strides in the critical areas of medical and educational schemes for youths and the aged respectively.
“As much as we are not holding forth for Kalu, we think it is important to recognize the fact that successful and courageous men like Kalu are scarce in Nigeria and as such the frontline businessman-cum-politician should be celebrated and not insulted.
“It is worthy to note that the PDP’s platform Ohuabunwa is using today wouldn’t have been possible if the likes of Kalu did not form and finance the party in 1998 when Ohuabuwa was nowhere to be found”.
“Let us even presume Kalu is broke, he cannot be as broke as Ohuabunwa, who despite his stint in the House of Representatives and Senate could not draw federal government’s attention to the poor state of roads in his Arochukwu Local Government.
“Considering Kalu’s intimidating profile, it is a known and established fact that he is way ahead of Ohuabunwa in all ramifications by all standards.
The group, while appealing to Igbo leaders to call Ohuabunwa to order, as his utterances were capable of causing confusion, noted that his unruly behaviour is a source of worry for stakeholders beyond the shores of the South East, who see Kalu as a rallying point.
Ike also called on the political class to play the game by the rules, adding that Ohuabunwa should adopt constructive criticism as against hate campaign having benefitted immensely from the Orji Kalu political family.