Man Shares How Senator Orji Uzor Kalu Shaped His Childhood and Community
A resident of Abia North has shared a touching account of how Senator Orji Uzor Kalu profoundly influenced his childhood, his community, and even his personal values. Speaking with deep admiration, he described the senator as one of the most respected leaders from the region.
According to him, his respect for OUK began during his early school days. He recalled an unforgettable event when a young girl from his school wrote a letter to the then serving Governor of Abia State, appealing for the repair of the poor road leading to their school. The girl explained that each day on her way to class, her stockings would get soaked and dirty due to the bad road.
To the amazement of the pupils, OUK not only responded to the letter but also visited the school in person. During the visit, he presented every child with a mathematical set and a palm fruit seed. The palm seed given to him was later planted in his family compound, and more than 24 years later, the tree still stands, producing palm fruits used for preparing a native Igbo soup called (ofe akwu). He described the tree as a “living symbol” of the former governor’s impact on his life.
He also credited Orji uzor kalu for inspiring his love for football and for constructing many of the roads in his community during his childhood. The improvements, he said, contributed significantly to the development of the area.
In addition, he shared a discussion he once had with a retired civil servant who praised OUK’s administration as one of the most worker-friendly in the history of Abia State. According to the civil servant, no workers were owed salaries, pensions, or gratuities, and during festive seasons, staff received gifts such as cars, bags of rice, and other welfare items. He noted that no subsequent administration has matched that level of care.
Reflecting on Orji Uzor kalu’s leadership, he expressed a strong desire to meet the senator one day and shake his hand as a gesture of appreciation. He hopes to learn from him politically and personally, acknowledging that he played a major role in shaping his early life.
Even after 24 years, the palm fruit tree planted from Orji Uzor Kalu’s gift continues to thrive just like the admiration and gratitude he carries for the man who planted the seed in his life.