Gov. Orji Kalu returns to Germany for Medical Checkup

You will recall that in his thank you letter to Nigerians on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, Governor Orji Kalu had informed Nigerians of his intention to return to Germany on the 10th of December 2018 to keep his medical appointment.

We learnt that the appointment initially slated for December 10, 11 and 12, had to be rescheduled as his doctor, who is also the family physician of the Saudi royal family, traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend to an emergency on December 10. According to the new appointment, Governor Kalu will now see his doctor on December 15, 16, 17 and 18. This was the reason he had to leave immediately for Germany.

Governor Orji Kalu remains an outpatient until he is certified okay by other doctors. As a result, he is expect to return again to Germany for a follow up checkup slated for January 20, 21 and 24 after which the hospital will decide whether to discharge him fully. The issue of Governor Orji Kalu’s health has been of public interest because of his pending case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On October 30, 2018, Governor Kalu wrote a letter to the President of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, copying the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, wherein he sought permission to travel for medical surgery in Germany.

Gov. Kalu’s application seeking permission to travel for surgery. Recall that after his surgery, in an unusual display of respect for the judiciary and the rule of law, Governor Kalu returned to Nigeria on November 30 against the professional advice of his Doctors, who insisted that he remained in Germany as an inpatient for close monitoring until the end of January 2019. While we could not get Governor Orji Kalu on the phone as every attempt to reach him directly failed, our Nigerian office reached out to his close associate who confirmed the trip, assuring Nigerians that Governor Orji Kalu will be back in Nigeria in time to celebrate Christmas with his family and supporters. According to the associate, “This shows that against the propaganda of the opponents and other political parties, Governor Orji Kalu is a free man who would sacrifice personal comfort, even risking his health, to obey the order of the courts in Nigeria. Most people in his status would stay 6 months or more because the doctor said so, until they are completely healed overseas before returning home to answer the laws of the land. Governor Orji Kalu has shown that he is a great statesman who has high respect for the rule of law having asked most of his supporters to stop joining issues with the decision of Justice Idris. Remember that he arrived Nigeria, presented himself to EFCC as ordered by the court; he will also be here for the next court hearing.”

Meanwhile, since the news of Kalu’s surgery broke, there has been overwhelming outpouring of love and solidarity by Nigerians and the people of Abia North in particular, who have repeatedly assured Kalu of their resolve to vote for him in 2019 for Senate. Many of the people of Abia North constituency urged Kalu to concentrate on his health as they will vote for him whether he campaigned or not. A Youth leader in Arochukwu LGA, Onyebuchi Udensi said “our people are tired of people coming to share N500 or N1000 during election and nobody will see them again till four years. We need quality representation, we need a senator who can influence the Federal Government to fix our roads, tackle erosion, provide assistance to our farmers, build schools and provide meaningful empowerment to our youths, not fry pan empowerment and Orji Kalu is the only credible candidate who can deliver. He has done it before and I know he will do it again.” On her part, a woman leader in Abiriba, Madam Ogbeyealu Okorie said: “When Kalu was governor, civil servants were paid on time, Pensioners were happy, parents were happy because of Kalu’s free education program, free health care, even till today, OUK foundation is giving out free interest loan to our people, giving scholarship to students and many more. Campaign or no campaign, the women will vote for him massively because he loves for us and we love him too.”