By Charles Adingupu
With barely two months ahead for the seamless transition that would usher in a new democratic government in Nigeria, elected Nigerians have continued the realignment in the nation’s political space.
This horse trading goes beyond party boundaries as every victorious politician in the emerging democratic government, crave for a foothold.
Hence, the build up to elect the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly has become a herculean task.
Under the current democratic arrangement, the South West has produced the President Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his firm supporter of the Vice President Elect, Senator Kashim Shittima from the North East, the void for the third most powerful political office holder, Senate President, would go to the South East.
Though other politicians have been penciled down for the plumb job. But a review of the credentials of array of South East candidates queuing up to hit the Gavel at the 10th National Assembly, puts Orji Uzor Kalu far ahead of his contemporaries.
The Man Orji Uzor Kalu
Born about 62 years ago into the family of Mr. Johnson Nesiegbe Uzor Kalu and Mrs Eunice Kalu, young Orji began his primary education like every normal child. He exhibited traits of intelligence that saw him to the prestigious Barawa College, Zaria in Kaduna State. He, however, completed his secondary education at the renowned Government College Umuahia. Having distinguished himself at the Ordinary level, Orji was offered provisional admission to the University of Borno to study Political Science.
But his foray into student union activism, pushed him to participate in the historical riot known as “Ali Must Go.”
Orji’s active role in the riot subsequently led to his expulsion from the University of Borno. Though, his peers took the school authorities to Court and won the case but the radical Orji never went back to the institution.
To filled the vacuum left by the nothingness of his truncated educational pursuits, Orji ventured into the turbulent business world with the sum of $35 he borrowed from his mother, Mrs. Eunice Kalu.
He slashed his business tooth buying palm oil from the East and selling them at the North. The young Orji’s business grew in leaps and bounds as he opted to reinvest proceeds realised from his trade to begin a furniture business.
Today, Orji’s small palm oil and furniture businesses have plummeted into SLOK Holdings, a conglomerates that consist of a number of successful firms-Ojialex Furniture Company, SLOK Nigeria limited, SLOK United Kingdom Limited, SLOK United States Incorporated, SLOK Botswana, SLOK South Africa SLOK Togo, Adamawa Publishers Limited, Sun Publishers Limited and also publishers of The Telegraph newspapers just to mention but a few.
Orji’s breakthrough in the business world was recognised by the then Nigeria’s military leader, Retired Major General Ibrahim Babangida. He became the youngest Nigeria at the age of 26 years old to receive the National Merit Award.
Since then, Orji has becomes a receipt of numerous awards both at local and international.
Orji who is happily married to Ifeoma Ada Menakaya, was also in 2018 bestowed the title of Danbai-wan-Hausa which literarily means the gifted son of Hausa Kingdom by the Emir of Daura, Katsina state, home town of of President Muhammadu Buhari. The marital union is blessed with four children.
Currently, Orji Uzor Kalu is a proud degree holder from the Abia State University, and a certificate in Business Administration from the prestigious Harvard University in the United States of America as well as Honourable Doctorate degree from the University of Maiduguri and Abia State University.
Orji’s journey into the Nigeria’s political space was indeed a remarkable one. He trudges the nation’s political landscape with effortless ease. Within a short span of time, Orji has found his bearing in the turbulent waters of the nation’s political landscape.
He served two terms as the Executive Governor of Abia State. At the completion of his terms, Orji retired to the Senate.
At the Upper Chamber of the legislative arm of government, he distinguished himself as he rose to become the Chief Whip of the Senate.
His mastery the political artistry in the 9th National Assembly earned him the respect of his contemporaries. Hence, the Senate President, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan considered him as the “most influential Chief Whip in the history of the Nigeria’s Senate.”
It was reported that in his first term in the Senate, Orji Sponsored not less than 51 bills and 28 motions, making him the highest ranked among Lawmakers from Abia State.
Unsurprisingly, the acrimony and bad bloody generated by reason of the perceived marginalisation of the South Easterners, deserves attention. As conversation for the Senate President in the 10th Assembly gathers momentum, it would be appropriate to push forward the names of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as he is brave, bold, Nationalistic, detribalized , resourceful and pragmatic.
