A cleric, Rev. Okoro Elekwa, has said that the achievements of former Abia State governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, will work strongly in his favour ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that he currently has no real competitor in the zone.
Rev. Elekwa, a minister of the Baptist Church, said leadership should be judged by visible impact on the people rather than political rhetoric. According to him, other political figures in Abia North lack a comparable record of people-focused governance.
Speaking while reflecting on governance in Abia State, the cleric said the period between 1999 and 2007, when Kalu served as governor, remains a reference point for effective leadership in the state.
“At a time when many Nigerians are frustrated and disappointed with leadership, it is important to remember that there was a period when governance truly worked in Abia State,” Elekwa said.
He cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that Abia State recorded the second-lowest poverty rate in Nigeria in 2003–2004, at 40.9 percent, behind only Oyo State. According to him, this performance placed Abia ahead of Lagos, Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory at the time.
Rev. Elekwa said the outcome was the result of deliberate policies and decisive action, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure, health, education and social welfare.
He recalled that under Kalu’s administration, every local government was directed to cultivate cassava, boosting food production and supporting farmers. The introduction of improved oil palm seedlings increased palm oil output, while initiatives promoting cassava-based products encouraged local production and reduced dependence on imports.
In the health sector, the cleric noted that hospitals and primary healthcare centres were built and rehabilitated, with regular medical outreach programmes extending services to rural communities.
He added that education received strong attention, with schools built and renovated, teachers paid regularly, learning materials supplied and scholarship schemes introduced. Technical and vocational education, he said, was promoted to prepare young people for self-reliance.
Rev. Elekwa also pointed to extensive road construction and rehabilitation across Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia, Bende and other areas, saying the projects opened up rural communities, eased transportation and supported economic activities.
He further highlighted investments in rural electrification, water projects and public buildings, as well as the rise of Abia State in sports under Kalu’s leadership. According to him, Enyimba Football Club’s continental success brought pride and international recognition to the state.
While acknowledging that no leader is without shortcomings, the cleric said Kalu’s years in office left visible and lasting results that many Abians still remember.
“Orji Uzor Kalu did not just occupy office; he delivered results people could see and feel,” Elekwa said. “That is why his record will speak for him in 2027. In Abia North today, he has no competitor with a comparable track record.”
Rev. Elekwa urged current and aspiring leaders to learn from that period, stressing that leadership must go beyond promises and slogans to deliver real improvements in people’s lives.
