In football, every serious person knows one simple truth, na only werey coach de change winning team when tournament don reach crucial stage. So, if the striker dey score goals, midfield dey control game, and defence dey keep clean sheet, why you go suddenly bench your best players? No sensible coach does that.
That is exactly how we in Abia North Senatorial District are looking at the political field today. We no dey do trial-and-error when competition dey serious. This is not the time to hand the jersey to an amateur whose biggest ambition is simply to answer “Distinguished Senator.” Politics today is not like a friendly match, na Champions League level we dey so. Experience, structure, influence and performance matter.
That is why Orji Uzor Kalu remains Abia North’s strongest player on the current political pitch. Whether you love him or criticise him, one thing is difficult to deny, the man has built political weight nationally, and economic muscle internationally. He is not just another senator, he is a ranking lawmaker with the prospect of clinching even more strategic position in the 11th Senate. In the current political league table, this gives Abia North visibility, influence and enviable advantage that many other zones would gladly jump on.
Apart from his national influence and political structure, we don’t also need to go far to see his local impact. We can quickly point to the scoreboard. Across communities in Ohafia, Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato and Umunneochi, we can point to OUK’s road interventions, school projects, health facilities, solar street lights, rural electrification and water schemes. Many youths and women have also benefited from empowerment programmes, business support, scholarships, vocational training initiatives, and sponsorship of Abia North citizens for international engagements.
Na wetin them dey call “stats” for football. You fit argue about style of play, but the numbers and projects dey ground, them no de argue am.
But beyond the Abia North local politics and projects, Kalu’s greatest asset at the national level is his network. In Nigerian politics, influence is currency. Having someone who can walk into national discussions and be heard is often seen as an advantage for the zone. And, nobody else in this race has a quarter of OUK’s capacity in this regard.
That is why every Abia North person with good intentions should keep emphasising on, “We Be Abia North, We No De Change Winning Team”. So, “If e no spoil, no fix am.” keep the player who knows the pitch, understands the game, and has already delivered goals for the team. No think am twice.
My name na Comrade Duke, I de write from Umunneochi in Abia North.
