A prominent Abia-based cleric, Reverend Chika Ubani, has praised former Abia State Governor Dr Orji Uzor Kalu for his contributions to education, disclosing that his four children, who benefited from the free education policy introduced during Kalu’s administration, are now practising professionals in law and medicine.
Rev. Ubani stated that some of his children were currently based in the United States and the United Kingdom, attributing their progress to the opportunities provided by Kalu’s education initiative.
He described Dr Kalu as a committed advocate of human capital development. He noted that the former governor, now serving as a senator, had continued to support educational initiatives, including scholarship awards. “Dr Kalu is still investing in education as a senator. He is a true icon of hope who led Abia in the right direction,” he stated.
Reflecting on Kalu’s tenure between 1999 and 2007, Ubani stated that the state experienced unprecedented development during that period, describing Kalu as a “natural-born leader.” He added, “My four children are where they are today because he gave them and many others the gift of education.”
The cleric criticised blanket negative assessments of governance in Abia State, arguing that such generalisations fail to acknowledge progress recorded under Kalu. “It is unacceptable to describe governance in Abia as wasteful for 24 years. Governance is continuity; we expected his successors to continue from where he stopped, as Governor Otti is trying to do now,” he said.
Rev. Ubani recalled that Kalu was widely recognised for his developmental efforts, including by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who once referred to him as an “action governor.” He noted that Abia witnessed considerable growth across sectors during Kalu’s tenure, which, he said, attracted migrants to Aba from other parts of the country.
He further pointed to the support Kalu received from the South-East, highlighting that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political group adopted him as its presidential candidate in 2007. “If Kalu had failed, would the apex body of the Igbo nation have endorsed him?” he asked.
Rev. Ubani also commended Kalu’s efforts in infrastructure and security, particularly in Aba. He noted that the former governor established the Bakassi Boys, a local security outfit credited with restoring peace to the city during a time of rising crime. “Till date, we are yet to see a more effective vigilante group in Nigeria,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Ubani noted that during Kalu’s administration, Abia State was ranked among the top-performing states in terms of infrastructure development, second only to Lagos. “He truly earned the title ‘Action Governor’ because of the real results he delivered,” he added.
