I’ll give my all to Jonathan’s victory –Kalu

• Seeks ex-leaders role in peaceful polls
From IKENNA EMEWU, Abuja
Former governor of Abia State and chairman of the Slok
Group, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has promised not to spare any role
or resource available to him to ensure that President Goodluck
Jonathan emerges winner of the presidential election next
month.
Kalu gave the assurance for his total support for the party,
PDP, and President Jonathan in Minna late last week when he
paid a visit to the former military president, General Ibrahim
Babangida.
In an interaction with the media after his parley with Gen.
Babangida, he noted that he was in Minna to discuss issues
about the nation at this very important moment when the
elections are about to commence. During the session with the
media, he informed that he was sure that Abia, his native
state would vote overwhelmingly for Jonathan. “I have no
doubt that my state will vote Jonathan and nobody else. He is
our candidate and the state can never abandon him. We have
always voted him, and we will do more this time. That is the
reason, as a grassroots politician and one close to his people,
the best assurance I can give is that President Jonathan owns
the votes of all Abia voters at the presidential polls.
“But as an individual, I am ready to give all within my reach
to drive that project of making sure Jonathan returns. Very
soon I will personally move down to my state to be with the
people and work out Jonathan’s victory in concrete terms. He
has the qualities that would win the voters to his side, and we
have a duty now, all of us rooting for him, to showcase his
achievements to convince the people that he has done much
to return and remain in power.”
During his parley with Gen. Babangida, Kalu had solicited his
intervention and those of other former leaders of the nation for
peaceful elections next month.
He said: “We need peace in the country, we need to work for
the peace, but the way things are developing create fears in
some of us that we need the intervention of people like you to
ensure that the elections would hold without rancour. That is
one of the reasons I am here to see you. People like you are
needed to intervene and call to order some foul utterances and
actions by notable Nigerians that may create bad blood. And
with your influence and those of other former leaders, the
nation would have some peace as you reach out to the people
who really listen to you.
“Please, use your influence and reach other past leaders and
take a stand to call on the people not to be used to cause
confusion. Also, the leaders contesting the elections should be
called to order not to inflame the system through desperate
politicking or utterances. The best Nigeria needs at a time like
this is peace, and people like you are vital to achieving the
desired peace.”
Gen. Babangida, in response, also assured Kalu that Nigeria
would have peace while thanking him for his concern and
visit. He advised voters, especially not to allow themselves to
be used and called on politicians to play by the rules and
ensure that no action of theirs would lead the nation into
crisis.
Also that same day, Kalu, in Abuja had hosted the leadership
of a forum of former members of the National Assembly,
which he is a member.
During the visit led by former Senate President, Dr. Joseph
Wayas and former Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Chief Agunwa Anaekwe, he challenged them to work for
peaceful polls in the nation and did not hesitate to inform the
body of his total support for President Jonathan.
He assured the team of his support for the forum with a
funding of N1m, every month for six months. He demonstrated
the seriousness of his pledge with N1m cheque for the current
month that he presented to the body.