Former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu promised to put everything he has to bring Abia to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC,” saying that the state needed “to be liberated from bondage.”

Kalu, a former governor of Abia said this on Tuesday at a mega rally organised by the state chapter of the party at the Umuahia Township Stadium, to welcome a host of defectors from other parties to the APC.

He said that although the party recorded less than six per cent votes in 2015 in Abia, he would work hard to beef up the figure to 75 per cent in 2019.

He said that the party would deploy “federal might” to resist thuggery and any attempt to rig APC out during the 2019 polls.

In an address of welcome, the state chairman of the party, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, expressed joy over the meteoric rise and expansion of the party in Abia.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, has said that President Muhammed Buhari was working hard to rebuild the foundation of Nigeria and also end the current economic hardship.

Among the politicians who switched their party allegiance were the former governor of Abia, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, the former Speaker of the Abia house of assembly, Chief Martins Azubuike (PDP) (Isialangwa north constituency), former Deputy Gov. Chris Akomas (Progressive Peoples Alliance), former PDP governorship aspirant, Chief Uche Ogah, and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Chief Azubuko Udah.

Others defectors were four members of the state house of assembly, namely Chief Ikedi Ezekwesiri (APGA) (Umunneochi constituency), Minority Leader, Chief Solomon Okogbuo (APGA) (Bende south constituency) and Chief Theophelus Ugboajah (APGA) (Ikwuano constituency).

Oyegun who expressed excitement over the calibre of defectors into APC in Abia, notably the former Abia governor, Chief Kalu, hoped that the party would take over the state in 2019.

He charged the defectors to brave the challenge to deliver the state to APC, saying that he would hold them accountable during the election.

Oyegun also told the rally about the efforts President Muhammadu Buhari to make the Nigerian economy better.

“There is no question we have some hardship in the land but every minute Buhari is working to rebuild the foundation of Nigeria,” Oyegun said.

He reeled out some of the foundational projects being executed by the Buhari administration to put the country on the path of economic recovery and sustainable development.

According to him, Nigeria remains one of the few nations in the world that does not have a functional rail system.

“Until we have a functional railway, we cannot develop,” Oyegun said, and commended the present administration for constructing standard rail line from one end of the country to another.

He further said that the administration had made a quantum leap on power generation, saying that with the current 7000 megawatts, the country would soon begin to enjoy stable power.

On agriculture, the APC national chairman expressed delight that Nigeria had become self-sufficient in rice production due to Federal Government’s pragmatic policy on rice.

“So the message I am giving you is that the bad days are coming to an end. The good days are beginning by the end of this year,” he said.

He said that the president was resolute and unshakeable in his commitment to transform the country, the name-callings and disbelief, notwithstanding.

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo urged Southeast Nigerians to avoid playing “primitive, regional and clannish politics,” saying that it would do them no good.

Okorocha, who said that Ndigbo played “bad politics” in 2015, urged them to go for national politics.

The National Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Emmanuel Enukwu, said that the party in the South east had endorsed Buhari to run for second tenure.

Other speakers, including the National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso, National Auditor of the party, Chief George Muoghalu, and former Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu state, urged all the Southeast states to move into APC and support Buhari’s second term.

They expressed confidence that Buhari’s re-emergence in 2019 held huge prospect for the emergence of the nation’s president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

Nwankpa lauded the president for “his landmark achievements,” and taking Nigeria out of recession to economic transformation.

He said that Buhari had performed credibly in the South east, citing the reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and the second Niger Bridge, as instances.

He however called for more federal presence in Abia and the appointment of people from the area into strategic positions.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the speakers were unanimous that the APC government had executed more projects in the Southeast in its two-and-a-half years than what was done in the area in the past 16 years before it assumed power at the centre.

In an affirmative voice vote, the mammoth crowd that attended the rally chorused their pledge to support the re-election of Buhari in 2019

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

He should go and sort out himself with EFCC first

Confirmed

The greatest Igbo politician of the whole southeast

You are the best

Igbos remnants will be dealt with in the operations cordoned and search ongoing

This man go good for comedy lol

KingsCity:
He should go and sort out himself with EFCC first

Keep quiet

What did you know about kalu

He's a billionaire before he became governor

Haha..

Clown!

mumu

sarrki:
Confirmed

The greatest Igbo politician of the whole southeast

You are the best

Igbos remnants will be dealt with in the operations cordoned and search ongoing

chai, my guy is doomed oo

sarrki:


Keep quiet

What did you know about kalu

He's a billionaire before he became governor

Sarrki I told you you are a disgrace to your generation, imagine you defending Orji Uzor Kalu? How well do you think you know this man?
He was simply smart, go and ask the likes of Okam from Abiriba that really helped him to be governor.
Even if he's a billionaire, does that rule out the possibility that he was not involved in any financial malpractice?
Come to Abia state and see the terrible things that transpired while he held sway, and today he is a saint because he joined APC? shame on you, I have told you I hope the money they are paying you is worth this disgrace.

clarocuzioo:


Sarrki I told you you are a disgrace to your generation, imagine you defending Orji Uzor Kalu? How well do you think you know this man?
He was simply smart, go and ask the likes of Okam from Abiriba that really helped him to be governor.
Even if he's a billionaire, does that rule out the possibility that he was not involved in any financial malpractice?
Come to Abia state and see the terrible things that transpired while he held sway, and today he is a saint because he joined APC? shame on you, I have told you I hope the money they are paying you is worth this disgrace.

While you defend Gej

Where is your pride

You supported Mazi KANU where is your pride

Kalu is better than them all

The greatest Igbo man ever liveth

nezzar:

chai, my guy is doomed oo

Shut up

He better than that fraudster mazi

sarrki:


Shut up

He better than that fraudster mazi

The same mazi that gave you and your dullard nightmares right

Yes the type of 75% votes he got in the Senatorial election, that is what APC will get or even worse.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

This 2018,I declare a year of comedy.

You people should forget this man,
PDP in Abia is terrible,
But with people like this man and apc,Abia will become a disaster,

Let him and go meet Mao to teach him some lessons.

You will give Buhari 75% from Abia abi?
Iberibe

nezzar:

The same mazi that gave you and your dullard nightmares right

Where is he now

Pmb is in Aso rock

sarrki:


Where is he now

Pmb is in Aso rock

Can I ask you a question?

nezzar:

Can I ask you a question?

Direct it to Nnamdi KANU

He's in better position to answer you

sarrki:


While you defend Gej

Where is your pride

You supported Mazi KANU where is your pride

Kalu is better than them all

The greatest Igbo man ever liveth

I told you once that to you everything is political, I did not defend GEJ, am only looking forward to a better Nigeria, am not a fan of Nnamdi Kanu, that does not mean that I will not agree with some hard truths he revealed, and I don't fancy the way he speaks and addresses issues, also his pride am not comfortable with, but trust me his a rare gem.
U don't know anything about OUK, trust me, we that grew up with him can tell you better, your support for OUK also goes a long way to expose how myopic you are to issues. If this same Jonathan you are criticizing joins apc today and align Forces with Buhari, you will start singing his praises. Shame on you.

sarrki:


Direct it to Nnamdi KANU

He's in better position to answer you

Z
O
M
B
I
E

. You mean 75 votes?

nezzar:

Z
O
M
B
I
E

E pain am

killsmith:
. You mean 75 votes?

Lol

sarrki:


Keep quiet

What did you know about kalu

He's a billionaire before he became governor

Go and learn English first before you come and write nonsense here

All you illiterates are the problem of this country

Beware of leuretta Onochie media outlet BMC on Nairaland they open alot of Username to operate and assemble there comments together to distract people from the topic against this evil Government by calling the author names like pigs, afonja, IPOB to create room for tribal media war within the tribes and make the topic useless.

sarrki:
Confirmed

The greatest Igbo politician of the whole southeast

You are the best

Igbos remnants will be dealt with in the operations cordoned and search ongoing

for making tribalistic statements such as supporting buhari to enable your ethnic group succeed him and the latest praise singing above shows that you are a jobless noisemaker who has lost every civility to be sensible,it only shows how desperate you are to cover shame of supporting a dullard who have failed in all ramifications.

Orji Uzo Kalu ran as Senator in the last general election. Not only couldnt he win his own Senatorial zone, he even came 3rd behind APGA and PDP.

Who cares about 2019? Our collective concern should be the genocide in Benue. Let's not keep a closed eyes and a deaf ear Abeg!!!