Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia
Igbere, the hometown of former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, became a tourist haven on Monday, July 3.
Many people from all walks of life were in the community to witness the inauguration of a water fountain built by Kalu and named after the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The event took place inside Camp Neya, the country home of the former governor. In his speech at the event, Kalu said the project was taken up by him as a lesson to people in and out of government that whatever good or bad anybody does is being watched by others.
He explained that he had watched the Vice President for a long while and discovered that Osinbajo’s loyalty to the President was not in doubt. That unique character trait prompted him to construct the fountain in honour of Osinbajo, Kalu said.
Among the dignitaries at the unique event were Abia State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Donatus Nwankpa, and other members of the party.
Members of the party leadership at the local government level were also at Kalu’s country home to reiterate their determination to take over power and lead the state aright.
Earlier, Kalu had advised the party’s eaders in the state not to be intimidated by anyone, saying they should be ready to take back the state and put it on the right lane of development. He said the time was right to take power back so that the APC would give Abians good governance.
Speaking before the launch, Kalu stated that the gesture was to show appreciation to the Vice President for the way he had been cooperating with the President since the duo came together to pilot the affairs of this nation.
“His loyalty to the President has endeared him so much to my heart and I said to myself, what can I do on behalf of the President and the people of Nigeria to show the Vice President that loyalty pays?
“I know that a lot of people who have watched and appreciated the efforts and selfless service of the Vice President would have reasoned like me without knowing where to start from to show their love to him.
“So, I said to myself that I cannot give him money because God has blessed him abundantly, neither can I give him any of the mundane gifts as a very spiritual man that he is. So, I decided to do this, which is like writing his name in gold, to show the world that there is reward in loyalty,” Kalu said.
Dr. Chris Adighije, an APC chieftain, who inaugurated the water fountain, described the event as a great honour.
Said he: “To be called upon to cut the tape of this beautiful water fountain, which brings out showers of blessing to everyone that is here today, situated right inside the country home of our leader, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, and in appreciation of the loyalty of the Vice President of Nigeria, is a great honour done to me. It is a beautiful edifice, one of its kind in honour of our Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, which was built and donated by our leader, His Excellency, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, who we will thank immensely for honouring loyalty. We have all seen that the loyalty of the Vice President to our President is not in doubt. This is like showers of blessing that we are looking at. The showers of blessing are not only for Nigeria, but for Abia State and to the glory of our leader, Orji Uzor Kalu, also.”