From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on Wednesday formally received the Award plaque for winning the “Overall Best Constituency Projects and Human Relations Award”at the 2022 Senate Press Corps award held earlier in 2022.
The award ceremony organised by the Apex media body of the Senate had in June honoured Kalu in recognition of his efforts at executing massive developmental projects and promoting a healthy communication synergy amongst his colleagues, constituents and workers within the National Assembly.
Fielding questions from the press shortly after he was presented with the plaque, the former governor stated that his goal is to mitigate rural – urban migration through the provision of basic amenities for residents within rural areas.
Kalu told the journalists that the movement of youths from the rural to urban areas in search of greener pastures can be discouraged by enhancing the livelihood of communities through the provision of basic public utilities, cottage industries among others.
The need to create avenues for rural dwellers to generate income within rural areas was also canvassed by the award winning Senator, citing an Example with a recent deal he signed with PowerChina, Monday, in Abuja, signed the deal for the establishment of five Agro-Industrial parks, worth $500 million.
On his re-election bid, Kalu expressed confidence in his scorecard , noting that the people will vote for him and his All Progressives Congress Party as a result of the massive infrastructural developments erected within their localities in the last over three and a half years.
Kalu reinstated his commitment to put the people first; “We are strong stakeholders with the people and we believe in the people. It is my job any day I will be in politics to leave the people then that means I have left politics, so the people come first, must also come last for me.
“We need to create an income based revenue for our people to be able to earn income and stop migrating to urban areas and want to stop people living in the rural areas coming to urban areas. I’m sure you would have heard about the business partnership venture we’re doing with the Chinese in Abia North District and it is purely private business driven. And our duty is to continue making what will benefit the people because if we are in politics and the people are not happy we should not also be happy.
Asked about his thoughts on his return bid, Kalu expressed confidence in emerging victorious , noting that he is his own rival as no other candidate could match his popularity and acceptance by the people.
Kalu remained upbeat at securing ninety eight percent Victory for his party; “Election is coming and I’m not shaky because I know I am with the people. The people are there. The election in Abia North I can tell you people frankly it is Orji Kalu versus Orji Kalu , there is no other candidate and that is the truth. People might be taking money from people they want to run for election, but they’re not really the election. The election there is Orji Kalu versus Orji Kalu.
“It’s only one party in our area and that party is the All Progressive’s Congress (APC) and people will vote on 98% APC in that senatorial district. I can bet anybody with money. It’s not something. It is not rocket science so it is me versus me.
“It’s my attitude to the people that will make them give to another person,there’s no vacancy in the area.
The former expressed gratitude to the organisation for finding him worthy to be entrusted with such a prestigious award amongst other lawmakers like himself, Kalu said the award will spur him to do more for his people.