By Chimaobi Afiauwa for MUKTV, Abuja
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State and former governorship aspirant of the party, Sir Mascot Uzor Kalu, has disclosed his reasons for withdrawing from the party’s governorship primary, dismissing speculations that he was intimidated out of the race.
Speaking during a radio programme, The Agenda, on Don FM 103.7MHz, Umuahia, on Thursday, monitored by MUK TV, the former Abia Chief of Staff brushed aside insinuations that he dropped his governorship ambition out of fear, intimidation, or the popularity of any co-aspirant.
He explained that his withdrawal was to forestall any form of internal bickering within the party that could weaken its chances of presenting a united front in 2027.
“Political bickering and other things came into play before the primary. So, after my brother [Senator Orji Uzor Kalu] had clinched the party’s Abia North senatorial ticket, I had to review my position.
“I could have fought my way through and become the candidate, but with the way we were bickering, if we don’t have a united party to be able to withstand the incumbent government in the state, maybe at the end of the day, people will say my candidacy divided the party.
“After speaking with the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and my brother, I decided to yield to the interest of the party at the last minute.”
The former Abia Chief of Staff further apologised to his teeming supporters across the state who were angry and disappointed over his withdrawal, noting that his decision was not driven by selfish interest, but by the collective interest of the party and the people.
“I know a lot of people are angry and disappointed. Whatever I’ve done was not for Mascot, but for public interest and the party.”
While reaffirming his commitment to working for the APC’s victory in the 2027 general elections, he warned that the governorship candidate and the leadership of the party have an uphill task in uniting the party by extending an olive branch to aggrieved members whose grievances stem from the outcome of the primaries.
When asked whether he had considered his reasons for withdrawing from the governorship race before declaring his ambition, Kalu responded in rebuttal, saying he believed Abia politics had evolved beyond parochial sentiments.
“I thought we had grown beyond those sentiments. In this state, we’ve had Paul Omerua and his brother, Emeka Omerua being military Governors.
“T.A Orji became Governor and later Senator and his son, Chinedum Orji became majority leader in the State Assembly and later Speaker,” he pointed out, while condemning what he described as the hypocrisy of critics opposed to his political aspirations.
