Focus on Nigeria
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, is a Nigerian politician, business leader and public figure with a dominant influence in political, economic and social arena of Africa’s largest economy and democracy. In this special report conducted by Korean Post, profiles the rise and rise of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu within Nigeria’s political and socioeconomic space, asserts that the politician from Abia state, South East Nigeria still has a pivotal role to play in the emerging politics of 2023.
The question on the lips of several pundits is whether Senator Kalu will throw his hat in the ring to run for the Presidency as the top job becomes vacant in 2023. With hordes of Senator Kalu’s supporters across 36 states of Nigeria and Diaspora strategizing on possible Orji Uzor Kalu challenge for Presidency 2023 ahead of the big race.
Call to leadership:
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Whip of Nigeria’s Senate is a dynamic, focused, and result-oriented leader that delivering on his remits, whenever opportunities beckon. Ahead of the 2023 election, political pundits and observers of Nigerian political environment believes that he may yet play a lead role as the country’s democracy consolidates.
With a global outlook and exposure, Senator Kalu participation in politics and governance were propelled by an abiding passion to see change in the way citizens’ welfare are prioritize by the government, policies formulation and implementation. Since, then he had cause to look back, since he threw his hat into the ring. He rose to become a leading voice for Nigerian citizens in the political space.
As Governor of Abia state, Senator Kalu designed and adopted strategic approach in tackling poverty, job creation, and huge investment in key infrastructures, affordable and quality health care, pro-poor policy, In the National Assembly, he has been promoting series of pro-poor legislations aimed at improving well-being of citizens and the country at large.
For Senator Kalu is imbued with the vision of a strong and virile democracy in Nigeria will transform it into a society that promotes justice, equity and inclusiveness. Therefore, his never ending pursuit is a Nigeria that promotes shared prosperity for the citizens. He believes that Nigeria’s democracy is work in progress that places demand on stakeholders to contribute towards realising the goal of political stability, economic growth, social harmony and well-being of citizens. The preoccupation with pro-people development agenda derived from an uncommon passion to galvanise support of National Assembly and other elected political officials in Nigeria to make governance works for the Nigerian people. He is playing this lead role towards shaping a new Nigeria future with a huge sense of commitment.
Senator Kalu leverages huge network across diverse political, economic and social spheres, as well as the enormous goodwill and support base across ethnic, political, professional groups and demographics to build a coalition for a new Nigeria hinged on equity, justice and unity. With over three decades of impactful participation in national affairs, Senator Kalu has remained a dominant figure with landmark achievements as a respected leader in key political groups and coalitions formed during the transition to civil democracy in Nigeria. He was elected two-term governor of Abia state from 1999 to 2007 and presided over 5.6 million population state, while in 2019, he elected Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the Nigeria’s National Assembly. His colleagues in upper legislative chamber elected him with the Chief Whip of the Senate, making him a ranking member of the Senate.
The success story of Senator Kalu rise from local to national leadership is inspirational and meteoric, a feat that was possible by his charisma, capacity to foster consensus with others and nurture coalitions. He is a gifted grassroots’ mobilizer with a national reach and support base; loved and admired by citizens across varied backgrounds including women, youth, civic leaders, religious groups, social cultural groups and indeed lots of ordinary people. It place Senator Kalu, heads and shoulders high above his contemporaries. He is one leader that attracts support of the citizens across the country and beyond.
With over three decades active participation in politics, Mr. Kalu seems determined to keep the momentum for a long time given his rising profile in the Nigeria’s Senate (upper legislative National Assembly) and the entire country as whole. He is currently, Senate Chief Whip, and member of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and remains a strong voice in promoting legislative advocacy, human rights, good governance, accountability and democracy dividends across bipartisan lines with extensive network of supporters and associates in and outside the political arena.
He was two-term governor of Abia State in the South East region of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He also won election into In the Nigerian Senate to represent Abia North District in the National Assembly. Relying on the enormous goodwill and political network he has across the country, he was elected the Senate Chief Whip, which placed him as the fifth in leadership ranking of Senators in Nigeria. Previously, he elected Executive Governor of Abia state Nigeria from 1999 to 2007; he transformed the state into a major economic hub in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.
He left behind a legacy of public infrastructure, affordable and inclusive health system, strong and accessible education, strong industrial base, pro-poor focused social services, job creation, as well as attractive and competitive investment climate in the state. Till date, the development strides he ignited in the state is yet to be surpassed by his predecessors.
With Nigeria’s democracy consolidating with time, many watchers of Nigeria politics postulates that Senator Kalu still has a big role in the emerging leadership in the next dispensation. He is a notable political titan and thought leader in Africa’s biggest democracy and economy. Time will tell on the next big role Senator Kalu in play in 2023 and beyond.
Orji Uzor Kalu Movement berths in Asia and Oceania continents:
The rising profile of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu continues to attract the Nigerians in Diaspora have joined the legion of support group to his phenomenal leadership style. The group is inspired by Senator Kalu’s record of service, exceptional quality, undiluted patriotism, passion and commitment to the Nigerian project.
Under the auspice of Orji Uzor Kalu Movement (OUKM) in Asia and Oceania countries including South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia with coordinating headquarters in Seoul, South Korea is scaling up the support base of Senator Kalu overseas. Conversely, this is an indicator of growing wider segment of the population.
OUKM outlined its mission and vision to include promotion of Nigeria;s democracy, working with stakeholders in the Nigerian project to advance political, economic and social development of Nigeria, and patterning with other Nigerians in Diaspora to further the political ideology of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu into policy driven solutions across all sphere of our national life.
The decision to build partnership on the platform of Senator Kalu is predicated on our resolve to support a worthy cause and grand vision of our leader and mentor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to make a difference in Nigeria. It is our modest contribution in the effort to consolidating the country’s democracy. As patriots that share in the common vision of a great Nigeria, we believe that build a movement around the leader’s vision will go a long way in stabilizing democracy in Nigeria.
Members are largely Nigerian professionals and business men and women across ethnic and religious divide, Nigerians living and working in these that share in the aspiration to build a better Nigeria, identifying with the political ideology of Senator Kalu hinged on making Nigeria greater. They believed Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in Nigeria’s Senate has burgeoning supporters across Asia and Oceania continents cutting across over South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.
The emergence of OUK Movement is a positive indicator that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s impact on the Nigerian political landscape is being embraced by wide spectrum of citizens including those living outside the shores of Nigeria.
About the author:
Writer Yuccee Otah Uwah was brought up in a deeply religious and God-fearing environment, where children were taught hard work, discipline, moral value and respect for the right of others, which shaped his philosophy values to date, He is married and widely travelled. His leisure intrests are farming, swimming and reading. He is multi-lingual and speaks fluently his native igbo, English and Korea languages
He had his primary and secondary school education in Nigeria, and states that he has diploma in business management at the University of Maryland (U.S. military base campus in Yongsan, Seoul, Korea.)
He is also known as the first African to own a factory in South Korea (clothing) where he emploed both Koreans and Nigerians
He also is among the founders of the Nigerian community association in Korea.