By IJENDU IHEAKA

The Former Chief of Staff to Gov. Orji Uzor-Kalu, Sir Mascot Kalu, has formally declared his intention to contest Abia’s 2027 governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

Kalu also pledged to build a government that works for all Abia people especially the underserved at the grassroots level.

Delivering his declaration speech in Umuahia on Saturday, Kalu emphasized the need for a new era of governance anchored on unity, transparency, and grassroots empowerment.

Kanu said he decided not to contest the 2023 gubernatorial election outcome although there were irregularities because the people demanded change.

“I chose not to go to Court, allowing the administration space to govern, but today, Abia deserves more progress, more inclusivity, and more truth in governance,” he said.

Kalu, who was a candidate in 2023, said that while some progress had been made under Otti’s administration, the delivery had not matched the campaign promises made to the people

Outlining his agenda, the APC chieftain promised to lead a people-focused government rooted in equity, transparency, and economic development.

He pledged full implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda at the grassroots and opening the state government’s financial systems to public scrutiny.

Kalu also promised to ensure that civil servants and pensioners were treated with dignity and paid promptly in addition to creating job-driven economic programmes, targeting Abia youths.

He vowed to strengthen local government autonomy by publishing and releasing LG allocations in full; sustaining and improving existing capital projects while launching human capacity development initiatives.

Citing Abia’s unemployment rate of over 62 per cent, nearly double the national average, Kalu declared it was unacceptable for the state to ignore the urgency of economic revitalization.

“Our journey is not politics as usual; It is a call to restore empathy to leadership and give every Abia person a reason to believe again,” he said.

Kalu invited party loyalists, progressives across political divides, and non-indigenes alike to join his team to reposition Abia under the APC.

He stressed that his movement transcended politics and it was anchored on faith and resilience.

The aspirant sealed his declaration quoting Saint Teresa of Avila who said: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, God never changes; Whoever has God lacks nothing.” (NAN)