I Picked Abaribe From The Gutter – Orji Uzor-Kalu

The lawmaker representing Abia-North in the senate, Orji Uzor-Kalu, has alleged that he picked the senator representing Abia-South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, from the gutter.

Abaribe was the deputy governor when Kalu governor Abia State in 1999, but was impeached before the end of their first term in government.

In his book entitled, “Made in Aba”, Abaribe had claimed that he was impeached because he did not bow to Kalu’s mother who was very powerful in the government.

He further stated that he started having issues with Kalu when he failed to join the league of “Egusi” peelers that thronged his mother’s abode “for whatever reason”.

He said: “I lasted exactly three years and nine months in office before I threw in the towel. The bumpy ride ended on 7th March 2003, when I finally resigned and switched parties.”

“The one tenure was characterised by three attempts at impeachment. The one thread that runs through them all is that the government can make no error.”

Both lawmakers renewed their hostilities in the buildup to Saturday’s bye-election in Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency.

Kalu has been campaigning for his younger brother who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election.

Abaribe last week said Kalu is yet to recover from Kuje prison experience, but Kalu in his response said Abaribe was little-minded to think he is ashamed of his prison experience, adding that it is strange that the senator he “picked from the gutters” and made Deputy Governor supplied petitions to his conspirators.

“My conspirators thought I would be President in 2023, so they decided to cut my journey short at all cost. Abaribe continued to supply petitions. But you see, these people are not God.”

“They think I am ashamed to have gone to prison. I am not and I don’t blame them because they don’t know my relationship with God… Joseph went to Prison, even Obasanjo went to prison. My going to prison is part of my life script and I am thankful God allowed it.”

“They are little minds and wicked people who have refused to do any project for their own people. They have kept a centre table for you and called it a bridge.”

“You can’t even pay common salaries and you are here swearing to God, ‘na me build this road’. The only road the state is constructing is the 600 meters road in Eziukwu which they have been building in the last six years; that’s one year 100 meters.”

“Compare my village and these people’s village and you will see how shameless they are. If you can’t build your own village, is it my own you will build?”