Abia North: “Our Support Is Based on Performance” — Cleric Explains Church’s Endorsement of Senator Orji Kalu

Bishop Silas Eke of Kingly People’s Assembly has clarified that the Church’s support for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu stems from a commitment to good governance and continuity in development, not political partisanship.

Speaking during a Sunday service in Umuahia, Bishop Eke noted that several respected clerics, especially from the Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Assemblies of God churches, back the former Abia governor and current senator due to his proven record in leadership and performance.

He emphasized that religious leaders must always speak truth to power, insisting that the Abia North zone should not be left in the hands of “unknown figures without meaningful contacts or experience to attract development.”

“Many of us have never met him personally. I don’t have any relationship with him. But as clerics, we are called to speak truth to power. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu remains the best from Abia State, both as a governor and as a senator. The Church must remain the conscience that tells the truth at all times,” Bishop Eke stated.

The bishop further explained that the Church’s endorsement is not politically motivated but a recognition of Kalu’s tangible achievements in education, agriculture, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.

During his tenure as governor from 1999 to 2007, Kalu introduced free education, rehabilitated major roads across Abia, upgraded Abia State University, and established the Abia State Teaching Hospital in Aba. His administration also supported small and medium enterprises, stabilized the education sector, and improved the welfare of civil servants and judicial officers.

Since assuming office as senator for Abia North in 2019, Kalu has facilitated numerous constituency projects, including rural road construction, school renovations, solar streetlight installations, and borehole projects across the five local government areas. He has also empowered thousands of youths and women through training and equipment support, earning recognition as one of Nigeria’s best-performing senators in constituency development.

“If others refuse to speak out, we will,” Bishop Eke declared. “When a leader delivers, the Church must acknowledge it. We appreciate what Senator Kalu has done, and we pray for more leaders with his dedication to service.”

Bishop Eke urged Christians to continue praying for leaders who serve with sincerity, stressing that the Church remains the moral conscience of the nation, duty-bound to uphold truth and fairness.