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 Kalu urges Muslim pilgrims to pray
for the nation
Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia state has urged Muslim pilgrims on
the 2006 hajj mission from the state and across the nation to utilize
the period to reflect on the situation of the country and pray for the
peace, unity, stability and progress of the nation while in the holy
land.
Kalu made the urge Monday while swearing into office the chairman of
the newly reconstituted Abia state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board,
Alhaji Musa Ikeakaram and eight other members of the board at the
government house, Umuahia.
Kalu who was represented by the state’s Head of Service (HOS), Mr
Uchenna Emezua, said the reconstitution of the all comprising board
with all the chief imams of the state as members was in recognition of
their importance to the state and nation and a demonstration of the
all-embracing disposition of the government.
“We took every group into consideration while reconstituting the
board. It is all-encompassing as all the tribes are properly
represented.
“You have three years to prove your capability. You must cooperate
with the chairman and promote the good image of Abia and Nigeria,” the
governor told the board.
Some of the board’s responsibilities, according to him, included
processing of pilgrims papers and recommending for the governor for
final approval, supervision of hajj operations and seeing to the
general welfare of the state’s pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
He urged the Muslims to uphold the teachings of Islam which preaches
peace and unity and hinted that government has begun plans to provide
a separate office for the Muslim pilgrims board for their meetings and
deliberations.
In his remarks, the chairman of the board, Alhaji Musa Iheakaram,
thanked the governor for his gesture towards the Muslims in the state
and promised to do his best in his appointment.
The chairman appealed for monthly allowances for the board members as
obtained in other states, noting that such gesture will enhance
commitment and dedication to duty.
Iheakaram said the Abia state hajj contingent will hold special
prayers for the nation and for Abians and the governor of the state.
“I assure the governor and government of Abia state that the laws of
the land would be upheld and the task on us discharged to the
satisfaction of the Muslim Ummah. Openness, transparency and
accountability will be our watchwords,” he promised. |
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 Orji Uzor Kalu: The most remarkable factor that
has obviated the effort of these authors is their inability to
decipher from which angle exactly to conduct a research into the
awe-inspiring life of this quintessential, successful, yet unassuming
leader. Orji Kalu has excelled in business, politics, and
philanthropy, and attaining the apogee of his career with his
ascendancy in 1999 as the Executive Governor of Abia State at
thirty-nine (39).
Young, ebullient and enterprising Orji Kalu is an enigma-meaning
different things to different people. His rise to national limelight
was quite meteoric, making him one of the most visible politicians in
Nigeria today.
Though not given to an arrogant display of intellectualism, his acuity
is immeasurably perplexing. This is manifest in the deftness and
adumbration with which he has accurately forecasted major events. No
wonder some believe that he became a governor by a combination of
adroit diplomacy and sheer good luck. He went through his academic
career diligently and was at various times at Christ the King School,
Aba for his primary education, Eziama High School, Aba; Government
College, Umuahia; University of Maiduguri; Harvard University Graduate
Business School (AMP 153) Boston, USA and Abia State University.
He holds a B.Sc. degree in Political Science of the Abia State
University, Uturu, IEA Certificate by USAID, honorary doctorate
degrees in Law by the University of Port Harcourt and Abia State
University, Uturu, and City State University, Los Angeles, USA.
..READ ON>>
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