A businessman and community leader, Chief Obinna Nshirim, has weighed into ongoing political conversations in Abia State, insisting that there is, for now, no basis for comparing Governor Alex Otti with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Nshirim said Senator Kalu’s political journey clearly distinguishes him, stressing that his career reflects courage, resilience and tested leadership forged through years of struggle at both state and national levels.
According to him, Kalu’s experience in national politics was shaped by difficult and defining moments that ultimately strengthened his political standing and influence.
He recalled that Senator Kalu once fell out with the Federal Government during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, noting that rather than retreat, Kalu chose to confront the challenge head-on.
“He faced the monster eyeball to eyeball,” Nshirim said, describing the period as one that tested Kalu’s political resolve.
Nshirim further noted that one of Kalu’s boldest decisions at the time was the formation of a new political party, the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), which he said was built from scratch through personal sacrifice, vision and determination.
He pointed out that the strength and viability of the PPA were later demonstrated when the party produced two governors—Ikedi Ohakim in Imo State and Theodore Orji in Abia State—as well as four federal lawmakers, describing the feat as remarkable for a relatively young political party.
According to Nshirim, those achievements underscored Kalu’s ability to build enduring political structures, mobilise grassroots and elite support, and remain politically relevant even outside the ruling political establishment.
“There is honestly no basis for comparison between Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, for now,” Nshirim said, adding that political experience is earned over time through proven leadership and resilience.
He urged political commentators and members of the public to be guided by facts and historical context, stressing that Senator Kalu’s long years of political struggle, survival and success place him in a distinct class within Nigeria’s political landscape.
