By George Maduka
I recently attended a gathering where Senator Orji Uzor Kalu addressed some community leaders on pressing issues affecting their locality. He emphasised the importance of peace—not just within their communities but across Abia State at large. One moment that particularly stood out was when he asked the leaders if, even during his time as Governor, he had ever used his position to arrest or harass anyone from their communities. The answer was a resounding NO.
He rounded off by urging the people to uphold justice and fairness in their dealings, and not to misuse positions of influence to intimidate or suppress others.
At a time when several top government officials have used their positions to arrest, harass and intimidate ordinary citizens over allegations of cyber bullying, criminal defamation and other related issues, Senator Kalu has remained an exception. His peaceful nature, accessibility, and love for the people have earned him widespread respect. Sadly, a handful of Abia-based bloggers and self-acclaimed journalists—mostly doing the bidding of certain politicians—are now taking undue advantage of his humility. It appears to be a classic case of overfamiliarity.
Has Senator Kalu’s decision to spare the rod emboldened mischief-makers?
A small group of media operatives, many of whom are affiliated with disgruntled politicians threatened by Senator Kalu’s closeness to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his enduring popularity in Abia State, have resorted to spreading falsehoods and engaging in blatant character assassination.
I have recently come across individuals circulating random images from the internet, falsely claiming they are Senator Kalu’s constituency projects. Others have peddled baseless rumours, alleging that billions of naira were allocated by MDAs for a mere 600-metre road project—again, without any shred of evidence. Some have gone so far as to accuse him of referring to certain parts of the state as an “IPOB enclave,” claiming that this was why elections were not held in those areas—yet they offer no document, video or audio clip to support such dangerous claims.
He has been insulted, ridiculed and consistently cyberbullied—not because he is guilty of any wrongdoing, but simply because he has chosen not to respond with arrests, detentions or legal threats. But let’s not mistake tolerance for weakness.
What is most revealing is that many of those now making defamatory remarks once approached Senator Kalu for financial assistance, jobs or contracts. Their anger stems from failed attempts to manipulate, deceive or benefit from him. They are embittered by his credibility on the streets and his deep understanding of how the media and digital space operate today.
One only hopes that these detractors do not push the Senator to the point of taking legal action. If he chooses to respond through legal channels, many of them would not survive the consequences.
A word is enough for the wise.
