The continuous absence of the Senator representing Abia North is worrisome to the people of the zone who are calling for replacement of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in order to have their voice heard at the red chambers, SAM OBINNA IBE reports.
As the Supreme Court delivered a judgement sacking Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha,the PDP led government of Imo state in favour of Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2019 governorship election,one other discussion that has continued to dominate the public attention in Abia state, is the vacant position of Abia North Senatorial District seat in the Senate following the 12 years imprisonment of former governor of Abia state,Senator Orji Uzor Kalu by the Appeal court that sent him to prison .
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who was sentenced to jail by Lagos Appeal court represents Abia North at the red chambers and he is the Senate Majority Chief Whip but it does appear that the people are worried that their voice is no longer heard given the fact that nobody is currently speaking for them since the ordeal of the embattled Senator.
Thus, the people of the zone are of the opinion that there should be a replacement so that their voice would be heard in the red chambers of the Senate..Speaking recently during media chat with some select Journalists in Abia state,Senator Mao Ohuabunwa noted with dismay that people from the Senatorial zone who ought speak out,are not doing so,noting that it is a good development for the people and the country.
He noted that the constitution of the country says that every Senatorial District must have a Senator representing them wondering why his people are not drawing the National Assembly and Nigerians to this anormaly.
Senator Ohuabunwa said his worry stems from the fact all the ongoing projects attracted by him during his 8th Senate which would have impacted positively to his people when completed have been abandoned,
He called on his people to speak out and demand for their right to have a representative in the Senate rather than keeping quiet under the current situation.
According to Ceekay Igara,the Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Abia state Chapter said that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was elected to represent the people of Abia North in the Senate for four years, if he is going to spend 12 years in jail,it means that that it is natural to send his replacement.
Abia IPAC Chairman said that people should remove sentiment from the reality on ground,that if Senator is no longer sitting in the Senate to represent his people, it’s not a good development because the voice of the people will no longer be heard.
Igara pointed out that the position of IPAC is that the voice of the people of Abia North must be heard,denying them so amounts to travesty of Justice.
As for a private radio presenter in Abia state, Mr Henry Onyenweife said that development is being slow down in Abia North as a result of nobody representing the people of the zone.He however called on the Senate to align with Inec to conduct another election if they will not give it to Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of PDP who contested against the embattled Senator in 2019.
On his part, Hon Goeferry Onyemaobi,an APC chieftain and former member of Old Imo House of Assembly said that a call for Orji Uzor Kalu’s replacement is immature , adding that the Senator has right to pursue his matter upto Supreme Court level.
He added that when the embattled Senator is also convicted at that level,that is only when they can begin to talk about replacement.The veteran Politician further said that people should exercise patience for now until the APC Senator has exhausted his right of appeal to upto the apex court,only then can they begin to talk of replacement.
When Hon Maduka Okoro, the media aide to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was contacted for his comment,he promised to get back but was unable to do that as at the time of going to press.
Other people who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said that they were hopeful that the Supreme Court would nullify the ruling of Appeal court so that the Senate Majority Chief Whip can come out unscratched and resume his legislative duties while insisting that the judgment was to rubbish him politically ahead of 2023 election given the popularity of the former Abia state Governor.
