…Senator Kalu, who leads the group, described the Team as a socio-cultural organisation committed to advancing the welfare of Abia people.
ABIA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Former Abia State governors, Senators Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Ahamefula Orji, on Tuesday held a meeting in Umuahia with past and present political office holders who served the state between 1999 and 2007, under the platform known as Team 1999–2007, where they declared their support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.
At the meeting, the group was expanded to include officials who served during the administrations of Senator Orji and former governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, leading to its rebranding as Team 1999–2023. Members also resolved to approach the court to compel Governor Alex Otti to relocate to the Abia State Government House and discontinue the conduct of official state business from his private residence.
In a nine-point communiqué signed by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as chairman, Senator Theodore Orji as first vice chairman, and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as second vice chairman, and read by former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Ike Oye, members were urged to intensify efforts toward ensuring President Tinubu’s re-election.
The communiqué commended President Tinubu for appointing former governor Ikpeazu as an ambassador-designate and reiterated the group’s decision to initiate legal action against Governor Otti over his continued operation from his private home. It also appealed to aggrieved members to put aside past grievances and work collectively for the progress of the group.
As part of its resolutions, the Team formally widened its membership to cover officials who served between 2007 and 2023 and announced the creation of a technical committee made up of representatives from all 17 local government areas of Abia State.
Earlier, Senator Kalu, who leads the group, described the Team as a socio-cultural organisation committed to advancing the welfare of Abia people. He noted that the group comprises three former governors representing the state’s three senatorial zones and dismissed criticisms that its members had achieved little over the past 24 years.
According to him, the Team operates as one family and must remain united to shape the future. He added that any differences among former leaders would be resolved internally to enable the group to move forward.
Senator Theodore Orji, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to Senator Kalu and other members for attending the meeting, pledging their collective commitment to the development of Abia State. He also called on members to let go of past disputes and focus on the common good.
Former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, thanked Senator Kalu for accepting to lead the group and praised Senator Orji for hosting the meeting. He urged members to close ranks to strengthen the Team and work toward securing a decisive victory for President Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Other speakers, including the Team’s secretary, Chief Don Ubani, Eme Abali, MBA, and Mrs. Felicia Dimgba, commended Senators Kalu and Orji for their leadership of the group. They described claims by unnamed individuals about retiring them from politics as unfortunate and vowed to resist any such attempts.
