Kalu: How I was Lured into APC

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, wednesday said he had finally succumbed to persistent pressures from the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), some of which came in form of dinner dates to join the party.

Kalu named the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Vice Chairman (South-east), Chief Emma Eneukwu, National Organising Secretary Senator Osita Izunaso and National Auditor, Chief George Muoghalu, as among those who plotted his defection to the ruling party.

On his part, Oyegun described Kalu as a positive asset to the APC from the South-east, adding that with his entry, the party has just caught a big masquerade.

“Three of them have hosted me to dinners for more than 20 times while they were trying to discourage me from going back to the PDP because they know that I am very close to Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sherrif. Both of them are very close friends of mine and colleagues. In eating those dinners, the last of which was five days ago, I was lured to seal the deal,” he said.

Kalu asked the party leadership to try and give the right support to the President Muhammadu Buhari-administration so that together they can improve the lots of the people.

“I know we are going through hard times and there is recession everywhere in the world, bug you have to help the president to formulate policies that will reduce the suffering of the people so that the party can become stronger and stronger,” he said

“Kalu who boasted that no one can pocket him in the politics of Nigeria today, said his joining the APC is to add value and to deliver the South-East come 2019 general elections.

“I am coming in and God will help me to bring value. Between last Sunday when I registered at Igbere and now, there are 4,000 members 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.

“So, it is a work that we must carry to a logical conclusion. Our upright war is that the South-east will be delivered to the APC. God will help us to do this
“When you look at my face, you see the genuine face of an Igbo man and the genuine face of a Nigerian. I understand the country very well and I hope that the party will continue to grow from strength to strength and I hope that the good work that President Buhari is doing, the party will continue to give him the support

Speaking while receiving Kalu at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Oyegun said APC would not stop until it woos all the key stakeholders in the South-east into its fold.
He described the former governor as one of the biggest masquerade from the South-east to have joined the APC.

According to him, Kalu would be expected to play a key role in the fresh membership registration exercise scheduled to commence soon.