Former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, Defects To Apc
BEVERLY HILLS, November 16, (THEWILL) – Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to help diffuse tensions that the party is an ethnic or religious contraption.
According to the state Publicity secretary of APC, Ben Godson, Kalu, who until his defection was the founder of the Progressives People Alliance (PPA), joined the APC on Wednesday at the party Headquarters, in Abuja.
Kalu was received by the party's National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, in the presence of other members of the National Working Committee.
Kalu also announced his move to the APC saying it will be a tough sell in the South East, but expressed optimism that it will eventually be accepted after intense lobbying of those that matter in the region.
“If they see us in this place, they will know that that APC is not an ethnic or religious party,” Kalu said in a press briefing to announce the move.
“It is something that we need to be explaining to the Catholic bishops, Anglican bishops, the Pentecostal churches and the rest of them.
“Between Sunday when I registered at Igbere and now, there are 4,000 new members already registered with the APC in Abia without making it open.
“There are two members of the House of Representatives who are there right now that are joining the APC
“If I had joined at the early times when they were forming the government, it would have appeared as if I want to be part of that process.
“This is the right time to join. “I am not going to run for any office for now. I am going to be a very good party man
“But if the party find me worthy to do anything, I will do it.
“I am sure that you know that nobody can pocket me in Nigeria or make me say what I don't want to say or do what I don't want to do.”
He has been re-arraigned by the EFCC before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on 34 counts of money laundering to the tune of N3.2 billion on October 31.
Kalu who served as governor between 1999 and 2007, was first arraigned in 2007 on a 96-count charge of money laundering.
Story by Oputah David