As the 2027 general elections draw closer, an advocate for good governance, Mr Okoro Amaububuka, has embarked on what he described as an “Operation Show Me Your Ward” campaign across Abia North, challenging residents to identify their wards and communities where Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has remarkably left visible footprints of constituency representation.
According to Mr. Okoro, the exercise is designed to show what he described as the “signature projects” of Senator Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
In the latest episode (3), tagged “Operation Show Me Your Ward in Abia North and I Will Show You Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu’s Signature Project Right There in Your Village,” Okoro focused attention on Ohafia Local Government Area, where he presented a catalogue of projects attributed to the former Governor of Abia State.
Okoro said Senator Kalu places a strong emphasis on education, describing it as the pivot around which both human and capital development revolve.
According to him, Kalu’s belief in the transformative power of education informed what he described as significant investments in schools across Ohafia, adding that the senator’s “scorecard” in the education sector could be seen in several communities.
He listed schools which benefited from construction and renovation projects facilitated by Senator Kalu.
They include Akanu Ohafia Kwata Primary School, where he said Kalu built a school; Abia Ohafia, where he said a primary school was renovated; and Ndi Uduma Bike Community School, where he said Kalu built a school.
Okoro further listed Isiugwu Ohafia, where he said some classroom blocks were renovated; Udureze Primary School, where classroom blocks were renovated; Ebem Oha, where some classroom blocks were renovated; Amuri Nkporo, where he said classrooms were renovated; Amuma Community Primary School, Amuma Ohafia; Elugwu Community School, Elugwu Nkporo; Ukwu Community School, Nkporo Ohafia; Okoko Primary School, Nkporo Ohafia; Ndiama Community Primary School, Amaeke, Abiriba; and Amaogwugwu Community School, Abiriba.
The good governance advocate also said a number of schools benefited from educational materials distributed by Senator Kalu as part of efforts to improve learning and make education easier and more accessible for pupils and students.
Among the beneficiaries he mentioned were Abia Model Basic School, formerly Elu Central School, Ohafia; Okpocha Primary School, Amaekpu Ohafia; Otodo Model Primary School, Asaga Ohafia; Gateway Academy Primary School, Asaga Ohafia; Ndibe Community School, Ndibe Ohafia; Ambele Central School, Amuma Ohafia; Ndi Abo Community School, Nkporo; Agboji Community School, Nkporo; Ebem Community Primary School, Ebem Ohafia; Amankwu Community School, Amankwu Ohafia; Okagbue Community Primary School, Okagbue Ohafia; Okpocha Primary School; and Akanu Ohafia.
Beyond the provision and renovation of school infrastructure, Okoro said Senator Kalu also constructed classroom blocks for Hope International School in Ohafia, further describing education as one of the areas where the senator’s representation has been felt.
But Okoro’s assessment of Kalu’s representation did not stop at education. He also recorded road infrastructure, particularly rural and farm access roads, arguing that such projects are important to the economic survival of Ohafia communities because a significant proportion of the population depends on agriculture.
”Senator Kalu recognized that many residents of Ohafia are farmers and consequently embarked on the construction of roads connecting communities, town centres and farmlands.” – Okoro opined
Okoro explained that the objective of the farm roads was to ease the movement of agricultural produce from farms to markets and other destinations, thereby reducing transportation difficulties faced by farmers.
Among the roads he attributed to Senator Kalu are Abia-Akanu Ohafia Road, from Faith Roundabout, Akanu Ohafia, to Akamba Market Junction along Arochukwu Road; Faith Roundabout to Paradise Junction, Akanu Ohafia; Market Road, Elu Ohafia; Isiugwu-Akanu Ohafia Road; Ndi Uduma Nwoke Road; Rural Road at Agboji in Abiriba; Rural Road in Bourdex Avenue through Bourdex Event Centre, Abiriba; Road at Agboji, Abiriba; Amaogudu Town Road, Abiriba; Amaogudu Rural/Township Road, Abiriba; and Bishop Court, Amaekpu Ohafia.
Another area showcased by Okoro was electricity and community safety. He said Senator Kalu provided more than 500 standalone solar street lights across parts of Ohafia to assist residents in navigating their communities at night.
”Communities that benefited from the solar street-light projects include Amaekpu, Elugwu Nkporo, Abiriba, Okon, parts of Akanu and Abia” – Okoro said
For Okoro, the projects listed across education, roads and solar-powered street lighting represent more than isolated interventions, but what he described as evidence of Senator Kalu’s presence at the grassroots.
While expressing appreciation to Sen. Kalu, Okoro said the people of Ohafia remained behind him and would have an opportunity to reciprocate his efforts at the 2027 polls.
“Thank you, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. Ohafia people are behind you, ‘Ikenga Ohafia’. Come 2027, we will reward you with our votes. Thanks, Sir,” Okoro said.
Okoro reiterated that Kalu had, in his assessment, demonstrated remarkable stewardship in representing the people of Abia North, expressing confidence that the senator’s constituents would be willing to return him to the Red Chamber in 2027.
With the 2027 political contest gradually gathering force, such grassroots assessments are likely to form part of the wider debate over representation in Ohafia and Abia North, most importantly eligible voters who have weighed the infrastructure, education, community development and other constituency interventions attracted by Kalu and are quite impressed by the level of economic, security and social growth these interventions has brought to their respective communities.
