Orji Uzor Kalu: From Humble Beginning To A Global Galaxy, Putting The Records Straight
Emmanuel Odoemelam, Abuja
Right from his days at Government College Umuahia (GCU) known as the Eton of the East, Kalu has been a leader who has demonstrated courage, resilience, punctuality, and strong character in dealing with people.
Kalu started his Secondary School education at Eziama High School, Aba, and switched to the renowned Government College Umuahia where he was referred to as “Labour Ke” an industrious student who is more of a workaholic, who gets his assignments and academics done right on time.
Despite being a “White Shirt” (a new student who didn’t start GCU from JSS1), the then Principal, O. O. Otisi, a grade ‘A’ principal in Eastern Nigeria, found Kalu worthy to be made the Labour Captain to pilot, coordinate the affairs of students during and after manual labor, because the exalted office demanded someone who is focused, disciplined, keeps to time and dares to persuade both his mates and junior students to be proactive and hardworking.
This responsibility bestowed on Kalu wasn’t a mere mediocre portfolio. To be a Labour Captain or School Captain in GCU then, you must be a very brilliant student who is academically sound, and hard-working to combine both academics and other school activities and still come out in flying colors.
These leadership positions were fertile grounds for preparing Kalu for what he was going to become later in life, both in business and politics.
Amongst his schoolmates and contemporaries, none has come out to give any bad report about Kalu, they are all giving heartwarming testimonies about their one-time Labour Captain, “Labour Ke”, Kalu.
Fast forward to when he became Governor of Abia State on 29th May 1999, Kalu showed the world the qualities he is made of by taking Abia State to an enviable, and relatively next level not minding where the Military Government left it. Kalu as governor, inculcated the spirit of farming and industrialized agriculture in students, teachers, civil servants, and the private sector. I remember when all pupils, students, teachers, and civil servants in Abia State were given palm seedlings free of charge.
Today, those palm seedlings have grown into palm plantation sites which makes billions for both individuals and collectively as a state. You will agree with me that this singular initiative of sharing palm seedlings took so many people from the street and has succeeded in making some wealthy people thereby enhancing and enlarging human capacity development.
As governor, Kalu made Free Education compulsory from Primary to University level which was the first of its kind after Sir Michael Okpara, Premier of the old Eastern Region. Yellow coaster buses (Ebeano) took pupils and students to school by 7 am and took them back by 2 pm daily from Monday to Friday across all the nooks and crannies of Abia State. Students were given Mathematical sets and writing materials to aid their learning. Yours truly was a beneficiary of the free ride and education scheme of former governor Kalu. This singular act of benevolence helped many parents to use the money meant for school fees to pay for other house exigencies.
These were the major burden Kalu lifted for parents of indigenes and non-indigenes in Abia. Kalu was not discriminatory. When other governors were retrenching workers who weren’t from their states which affected so many teachers, they all ran back to Abia State and were absorbed by the Abia State Government led by Dr. Kalu.
Abia State University, ABSU, was the top grade when Kalu was governor. Their graduates were top in the Nigerian Law School and Nigerian Medical School. Kalu made sure he pulled renowned Professors from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, to come over to ABSU to help them come up to standard and the results were seen in Law, Medicine, and Engineering graduates ABSU produced in the labor market. Throughout Kalu’s tenure as governor of Abia State, ABSU never lost NUC accreditation.
How was Kalu able to achieve all these incredible legacies in ABSU?
How was he able to maintain this status quo without owing lecturers’ salaries?
The answer isn’t far fetched. The reason was that he was financially prudent and disciplined. He was circumspect with his security votes, which some of his governor colleagues were lavish with, however, he chose to use his security votes to offset some of the education burden which was very smart and thoughtful of him.
As governor of Abia State, Kalu built from foundation the teaching hospital in Aba. When he left as Governor, his successors couldn’t maintain the building and management of the teaching hospital.
Kalu is the brain behind Judges’ quarters in Abia State. He built it, furnished and paid lawyers as at when due. He never owed them any salary for one day.
As governor, Kalu built quality roads which my community Nneato, Umunneochi LGA benefited from. Kalu constructed Leru road from the Leru Junction down to Umuchukwu in Anambra with drainage systems. The good thing is that these roads are still solid till today. Kalu constructed roads in the 3 Senatorial districts. No village in Abia State will deny witnessing the impact of Kalu’s government from 1999-2007.
In terms of security, Abia state was calm, peaceful, and tranquil. Foreigners and Europeans were all rushing to Abia State then to do business because they knew the state government led by Kalu was resolute, determined, and unequivocally poised to safeguard the lives and properties of the people living and doing business in Abia State and her environs. Kalu not only depended on the Police and Army to protect the people, but he also employed the services of non-state actors like the vigilantes who were properly documented and monitored to avoid clash of interests or working outside their job description which was to gather local intelligence to forestall crime from happening.
Kalu also had a robust and cordial relationship with the traditional institutions and rulers who helped in taming their subjects and restive youths who were properly engaged in doing meaningful agricultural, sporting, and creative activities that put money in their pockets.
*How about now Kalu is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Is he still doing those selfless great jobs for his people?*
The answer is capital YES. Kalu is doing more, because it’s in his nature to help and see people rise and fulfill their God-given potentials.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Privatization, Kalu, has done for Abia North Senatorial District what no Senator has done for them, since the inception of the state. He has constructed over 160 standard roads (2-3km each) with drainages, and renovated over 70 primary/secondary schools, and 50 primary health centers in less than 5 years of serving as a ranking lawmaker at the Hallowed Red Chamber.
In a recent article published by Dailytrust newspaper, it is on record that out of 13 former governors who are current serving senators, Sen. Kalu is the only ex-governor who has sponsored 5 bills since the inception of 10th Senate. Where does this point to? It clearly shows Kalu has a clear-cut legislative agenda that is well spelt out and he knows exactly how to get it done to bring dividends of democracy down to primarily the good people of Abia North Senatorial District and citizens of Nigeria in general.
He has done Zonal Intervention Projects more than any Senator in Abia State. Sharing of agricultural equipment, Grinding machines, Casava processing machines, Generators, Sewing machines, Wheelbarrows, Shovels for farming, School materials, Bags, Exercise Books, Pencils, Pens, modern writing Desks, and writing Boards to different schools across Abia North to aid pupils and students study in a good learning environment.
It has also been a tradition for over 38 years, since 1986 that the former Chief Whip of the 9th Senate, Kalu, shares bags of Rice, Beans, Garri, and with a good sum of cash to 103 wards in Abia North, Abia State and beyond, every Yuletide and New Year celebration.
The 2023 season celebration wasn’t an exception, because the people’s Senator, Dr. Kalu in his wisdom and kindness shared over 30,000 bags of rice, 10,000 bags of beans, and 10,000 bags of garri to help cushion the effect of the realities of economic challenges. One thing that struck me and drew my attention was how humble Kalu was standing under the scorching sun, distributing these palliatives and giving cash to 103 wards of the OUK movement, APC, and Reality Organization members who came to Camp Neya, by himself. He saw to it, that the palliatives were judiciously shared on merit and not by ‘eye service’, which further portrayed him as a leader with good conscience.
He also extended his benevolence to share 4 Hilux Vans to the Nigerian Police and Igbere Vigilante to help curb crime and gather local intelligence primarily in Abia North and Abia State.
*Why am I writing this article?*
This is to specifically address young *Gen-Z* generation who might be in their 18s, 19s, and 20s, who weren’t born or were still very tender when Kalu was a governor. This is to give them a better understanding of who Senator Kalu is. Our schools no longer teach History, which is where students get information they’re privy about.
However, this article will further throw more light on some dark-shaded opinions or reservations you have against the best governor Abia State has ever had to date. I believe you are reading the article line by line and getting the true reflection of who Kalu truly is. He is a man of his word. His yes is his yes, and his no is his no. If he is with you, he is with you. If he’s not with you, you will clearly know. He is outspoken and courageous. If he tells you anything, you can take it to the bank and cash it and it won’t bounce. That’s the caliber of man he is. He is very punctual and keeps to time. Of course, Kalu is a Harvard-trained business mogul who has been taught that time is vital for effective delivery on projects. If he gives you time for an appointment, better don’t take it with laxity.
Abia’s leadership problem started when successive Governors Kalu handed over power in trust deviated from the master blueprint he gave his successors. Had they remained or sustained Kalu’s legacies, Abia would have gone farther than where it is currently.
Successive Governors of Abia will find it hard to step into the shoes of Sen. Kalu in all ramifications of governance, because Kalu set a high standard as governor of Abia State. It will be a herculean task for successive Governors to match up to the standards Kalu set from 1999-2007, even when Abia had limited resources, and a meager budget, when compared to the present dispensation.
Senator Kalu has been an exceptional leader from time immemorial. It didn’t start today. He started from humble beginnings, began business at a young age of 19, as a University of Maiduguri student. He started selling palm oil from East to the North and brought Fish from North to East to sell Ventured into furniture and other merchandise as the business grew bigger. He became a successful business man at the age of 25. Ever since then, he has been God’s working tool in the affairs of men (humanity).
Those who erroneously see Kalu as venal and send political fifth columnists to write mendacious reports about him, which are unfounded. This emanates from those who can’t separate jealousy from saying the truth. Their major worry is, how can Kalu be wealthy and have political power simultaneously
Kalu remains a political and business institution in Abia State, Southeast, Nigeria, Africa, and the world in general.
Those who don’t know him closely are those who waste their time writing unverified stories about the permanent good man, Kalu, who understands the responsibility and sacrifice of leadership.
Kalu is humble and down to earth, a detribalized Nigerian who was born in the East, grew up in the North and did business in the West. Kalu understands the economic and political dynamics of Nigeria due to its unique diversity.
Happy birthday to the great Iroko of Africa and an encyclopedia and reservoir of modern politics. I pray God grants you long life in good health and sound mind as you continue to inspire hundreds of millions of people who look up to you for mentorship and leadership in all spheres of life endeavor.
Emmanuel Odoemelam is a Legislative Aide to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
e-mail: odoemelamemmanuel07@gmail.com for more correspondence
