T.A. ORJI'S AIDE IN TROUBLE FOR PRAISING KALU AT CAMPAIGN RALLY

The popularity of the former governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu came to the fore again, when at the campaign rally of the incumbent Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, the latter's aide, Mazi Harbour announced the Abia former governor as the man who made Abia great.

How could one explain the incident at the campaign rally of the incunbent Governor, at Ntigha Uzo Primary School, in Isialangwa North LGA, where rather than introduce the incumbent Governor, one of his aides went ahead and introduced the former Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu as the only pillar that made Abia strong.

Although it appeared to many who were present at the campaign rally, that the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and aide to the state governor was hypnotized, many people who were present, agreed that the former governor deserved all the accolades that was poured on him.

The speed at which the microphone was snatched from him nearly put the helpless aide off balance. Some blamed the utterance of the aide on the similarity between the two names while others said that it was the spirit of the past governor that was haunting him.

The governors aide , who probably was overwhelmed, and wanted to impress his present boss, Governor Theodore Orji thundered as follows 'His Excellency, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, MON the great' and then the people said no, no, no, then he realized that he had misrepresented his present boss with that of his former and rushed to where the governor sat and knelt before him in a show of remorse . After that , all efforts by him to take back the microphone fell on deaf ears as the microphone was forcefully taken from him by one of the directors of the governor's campaign organization.

There are indications that the aide may not be allowed to feature in future state assignments again to avoid a reocurrance of the costly mistake. It was also observed that immediately he committed that blunder, the governor's countenance changed and as long as the rally lasted , it was obvious that he was not happy. Upon realising the grievous mistake he had made, the MC who is also the Chairman of a Board in the state , quickly felt sober as tears closely rolled down his cheeks .

He was rescued by one of the campaign coordinators who ran to him and took away the microphone from the transfixed Mazi Harbour as he was unable to coordinate further. The confused governor's aide was later seen kneeling before his boss, asking him for forgiveness and was overheard saying it was the devil that entered his mouth and twisted his tongue. Daily Sun learnt later that the governor assured him of forgiveness of sins .

It was gathered that the aide had been in the corridors of power in the state since its creation in 1991 right from the military administration of Group Captain Frank Ajebuno, through the eight- year tenure of former governor Orji Uzor Kalu as Special Assistant on Mobilization.

Speaking after a new Master of Ceremonies took the floor, Governor Orji urged his supporters to remain steadfast in the support of his reelection, while he promised to hand over to an Ngwa man after his tenure ends in 2015.