The political rift between Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Orji
Uzor Kalu of Abia North senatorial district deepened weekend as both men
clashed at a fund-raise outing at Arochukwu,
Ohuabunwa’s country home.
The event was the
27th General Assembly and Mass Rally of Nzuko Arochukwu Women’s Wing World Wide
organised by Aro women to raise fund for
the building of Home for the Elderly and a Skill Acquisition Centre.
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According to a local source, Kalu’s wife was the one invited
by the women for an award but the former governor apparently wanted to take
political advantage of the opportunity and decided to represent her.
Kalu had stormed Obinkita Arochukwu village square, venue of
the event with about 70 security personnel including army, police, Department
of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Civil Defense Corps (NCDC), Federal Road
Safety Commission, and local vigilante.
The army of stern
-looking security personnel that escorted Kalu to the event made a futile
attempt to stop the vehicle conveying the former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament
from driving into the arena.
But the gallantry of Ohuabunwa’s security aides and the
overwhelming support of his crowd of fans who were solidly on ground cheering
him, could not be resisted by Kalu’s men.
The event was literally brought to a halt for a while
immediately Ohuabunwa arrived the venue as the crowd erupted with shouts of
“Follow Better, our own “.
There was another round of
supremacy battle between the duo in the course of the programme following an argument
on who should speak first.
Kalu had insisted on delivering his goodwill message last
but Ohuabunwa outsmarted him by maintaining that as a son of the soil and Chief
host, he would rather prefer to speak last.
But Kalu stirred the hornet when he started making boastful
remarks in the course of his speech, claiming to be the benefactor of all Abia
politicians.
Apparently in his bid to disparage other political heavy
weights in the state, Orji claimed that every known politician in the state
including the governor were his “boys”.
Kalu further argued that he was the political leader of Abia
North while assuring the people that the federal government is committed to the
rehabilitation of the Bende -Ohafia -Arochukwu highway.
But apparently infuriated by the derogatory remarks by the
former governor against some political elite in Abia North, some youths in the
crowd almost shouted him down, warning him to stop insulting their brothers
irrespective of their political differences.
The irate youths reminded the former governor that it was
his unnecessary insults and muscle flexing with Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo
that stalled the rehabilitation of the Bende -Arochukwu federal highway already
attracted by Ohuabunwa while he was at the House of Representatives.
The angry crowd threatened to embarrass him should he
further rain insult on illustrious sons of the zone.
Kalu later announced
a donation of N2 million for the Arochukwu women project but the audience
however didn’t seem to be very excited.
The event was almost disrupted as shouts of “Ruga senator”,
“we need our stolen mandate”, “We don’t want a man with EFCC case” rented the
air.
In his remarks, Ohuabunwa said the event was not a political
rally and should not be turned into an opportunity to unnecessarily overheat
the polity.
He advised the former governor against making derogatory
remarks on others just to disparage them.
Ohuabunwa noted that if he were a governor for eight years
he would not have come to make provocative statements before a people whose
road he abandoned while in power.
The former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament who is still
contesting the outcome of the election with Kalu at the Appeal court said Abia
North deserved quality representation at the senate and not empty propaganda.
Ohuabunwa highlighted some of his strides in bettering the
lots of Aro clan in particular and Abia North in general, promising not to
relent in such efforts.
He donated N2.5 million for the project and another N550,000
to the Abuja and home branches of Aro women as well as the organisers of the
event and a women cultural group.
Amidst thunderous ovation by the women who shouted “Mao is
our son, Aro women cannot abandon their own”, Kalu stormed out of the arena
with his army of security aides.
Earlier in her
address of welcome, the President-General of the wing, Lady Bright Elekwa said
the idea of the proposed home is to provide the elderly adequate care
irrespective of whether their children are alive, well to do or otherwise.
She argues, “A home for the elderly promotes healthy living
and interaction amongst elderly peers, so far as trained caregivers will be
available to meet needs with love.”
Recall that the National and State Assembly Election
Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia had nullified Kalu’s election and ordered
INEC to conduct a supplementary election in eight electoral wards in Arochukwu
plus so many other units in Abia North.
The tribunal faulted Kalu’s victory for non-compliance with
the margin of lead.
Kalu has however appealed the judgment at the court of
appeal in Owerri .
Source: WaWa News Global