Abia North: Orji Kalu Has Outperformed All South East Senators – Aide

An aide to the lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has said the former Abia State governor has delivered more impactful developmental interventions than any other senator from the South East.

The aide, Sunny Idika, made the assertion on Friday while speaking at the Ohafia Summit, a respected think-tank forum made up of scholars, community leaders and international journalists.

Idika stated that Senator Kalu facilitated a foreign direct investment valued at about 500 million dollars into Abia North, adding that the investment is already producing visible results in various sectors.

According to him, projects associated with the investment include a cashew nut processing factory in Igbere, the construction of a solar light manufacturing plant—the first of its kind in Abia State—a tricycle (Keke) assembly factory, as well as large-scale cassava, cocoa and other agricultural farms spread across communities in the district.

“These are projects that people can see and feel in their daily lives,” Idika said.

On the education sector, he explained that the senator intervened after noticing the deplorable condition of many public schools within the zone.

“If you go round schools in our communities, you will weep,” he said. “There are not enough classrooms and desks, and many parents can barely feed their families, let alone buy uniforms, textbooks or sandals for their children.”

He disclosed that Senator Kalu facilitated the construction of more than 120 classroom blocks across Abia North, supplied desks, and ensured the provision of complete textbooks, with particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Idika further revealed that over 20 students from the district are currently studying Medicine and Surgery in different parts of the world, benefiting from educational support linked to the senator’s interventions.

Speaking on road infrastructure, he explained that several projects described by critics as substandard were executed through federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) under empowerment and rural intervention programmes.

“Most of these projects were initially designed as small empowerments such as motorcycles or minor grading of rural roads,” he said.

He added that some of the roads were constructed at costs ranging from ₦50 million to ₦80 million, noting that in many cases the implementing agencies did not fully release the approved funds.

“That is why many lawmakers shy away from such interventions,” Idika said. “They prefer empowerments because they are cheaper and easier.”

He maintained that Senator Kalu’s approach is focused on sustainable community development, insisting that his achievements remain unmatched among his contemporaries from the South East.