Senator representing Abia North at the National Assembly, Orji Uzor Kalu received heap of praises from the Nigerian Police Force, the All Progressives Congress and community stakeholders of Abia North over his donation of four security patrol vehicles to the Nigerian Police Force Area Commands and to the Igbere, Bende LGA Vigilante group.
Handing over the Vehicles on Monday which were procured for the Ohafia, Isiukwuato and Igbere, Bende LG Area Commands of the Police force in Abia-North and the Igbere Vigilante group, the Chairman Senate Committee on Privatisation admonished his constituents of Abia North and Nigerians in general to shun violence and other criminal activities.
Kalu made the call during the handing over ceremony held at his Igbere Country home which had in attendance the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie; National Welfare Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Donatus Nwankpa; Royal fathers and other community stakeholders.
The former Abia Governor divulged that the Toyota Hilux vehicles he donated were funded from his personal pocket, urging the Nigerian Police Force in the benefiting Divisions to utilize them in fighting crime and securing the lives and property of the people.
Pleased by the development the ruling APC through its National Welfare Secretary praised Kalu’s latest efforts to fight insecurity in Abia-North and the state. The Party’s Welfare officer asserted that Orji Kalu has changed the dynamics of Legislative representation.
Nwankpa commended Kalu; “Orji Kalu’s assumption at the Senate has changed the dynamics behind the idea of representation and it is symbolic. It is for the police and the Vigilante to synergise and work together.
“I am happy that the Police commissioner has been humane since he took over. Abia Police has had a change and the Police has done so well in fact this the best Christmas we’ve had in many years.
Stalwart of the APC in the state, Chief Daniel Eke lauded Kalu’s action to tackle insecurity. The 2023 Abia Gubernatorial Aspirant said that the former Senate Chief Whip’s initiative is an addition to his infrastructural development projects.
Eke described Kalu as the Best Senator;
“This is the best Senator Nigeria has ever had looking back before he came they used to give us frying pans as empowerment. He has built and renovated schools, roads, water boreholes and so on. At that point I was thinking was still Governor because he was working like one. The vehicles will assist the police to do their jobs effectively.
Receiving the donated Vans, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie stated that his men in the benefiting Area Commands and Division have no more excuse to fail in their responsibility of securing lives and property.
“It is a sign of good things to come”, CP Onwuemelie said while applauding Senator Kalu on behalf of the Nigerian Police. According to him the Lawmaker’s donation to the security agencies is in tandem with his character.
Onwuemelie appreciated Orji Kalu;
“It is a sign of good things to come, I would like to give enormous thanks to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. What he is doing is something that is in his character. The level he is now in life is a level of self actualisation because he is Happy doing this. I want to assure you that we will do our best.
The CP who directed his men in Ohafia, Isuikwuato, and Umunnochi to synergise with local vigilante groups in intelligence gathering and operations, thanked the Senator and Governor Alex Otti for supporting the Police and other security agencies.
Ezeogo Onuegbu Onuegbu who spoke on behalf of the Royal fathers commended Senator Kalu; “These Vehicles donated by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in his private capacity should be used effectively. We know the capacity of the police commissioner and I enjoin everyone to contribute to insecurity because it is paramount. On his part President General of the Igbere Welfare Union, Comrade Godswill Okorie expressed gratitude to the Abia North Lawmaker.
The former Abia State Governor in his address reiterated that crime must never be condoned , urging Nigerians to channel their energy towards developing their agricultural potential to uplift the Nigerian economy.
He bemoaned the vandalisation of public utilities provided by the Government and other office holders. Kalu added that every Nigerian should be patriotic and should not engage in the destruction of lives and public properties, saying that those destroying public properties are making big mistakes.
Kalu lamented that he installed solar electricity in parts of Abia North, but regretted that some of the facilities were vandalized by hoodlums. He however expressed the belief that the Nigerian Police and Igbere Vigilante group would now function optimally with the availability of the patrol vehicles.
Kalu called for collaborative efforts to fight insecurity;
“Crime is something that should never be tolerated. I want to encourage the Commissioner of Police and his Deputy because I have known them for 24 years now and I can testify that they are good officers.
“I also thank the Inspector General of Police for making the posting of police officers effective because this is the first time we are having senior Police officers who understand Abia very well.
“This is one of the best Christmases we have had. In supporting the Police does not mean we have too much money but the mandate is to give these vehicles to the divisional Commands of Ohafia, Isiukwuato, and Bende LGA and the Vigilante and as long as we have more resources we will support the police in other parts of the state.
“It is important that we fight the hoodlums and our people need to return to the farm.
The Senator also called for improved funding for the Nigerian Police saying that they are inadequately funded he however commended President Tinubu for changing the narrative in the recently approved supplementary budget.
He appealed to Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu to develop the country, identified crime, epileptic electricity, corruption, and economic challenges as Nigeria’s major headaches, and urged the President to tackle the problems.
“We must support the Police by providing them with intelligence reports, ” Kalu advocated.