Aba on lockdown as Orji Kalu attends Tonimas requiem Mass

Human, vehicular and economic activities were on Monday shutdown in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State as residents and supporter of the former governor of the state and incumbent Senator representing Abia North in the National Assembly, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu stormed Enyimba city.

Kalu was in Aba to attend the requiem Mass of late Aba Based Business mogul and Chief Executive Officer of Tonimas Group of Companies, Chief Dr. Anthony Obiagboso Enukeme held at the Christ the King Cathedral Church (CKC), Aba.

This was the first time Kalu would be visiting Aba months after he regained freedom from detention.

Chief Anthony Enukeme, a native of Neni in Anambra State who has the Administrative Headquarters of his business empire situated on Margret Avenue, Aba died after a brief illness.

Kalu who came in a long convoy was seen greeting the cheering mammoth crowd that defied what they were doing to give him a rousing welcome, from the roof of his SUV.

To show the love that they have for the former governor of the state, people on noticing it was Kalu’s convoy making way into Aba, trekked from Osisioma to CKC just to have a glimpse of the man that is so dear to their hearts despite the scorching sun.

 Sources close to Kalu told our reporter that if not for Coronavirus pandemic ravaging the country, Kalu would have loved to walk down the venue with the Aba residents that came out to show him support.

“The truth is that Kalu was coming to the venue to attend the requiem mass. When he noticed that people were anxious to him, he now came out to wave at them from the roof top of his car. He (Kalu) was so happy and overwhelmed with the love that Aba people showed him. It was really massive. There was no formal announcement; he (Kalu) was just attending the event like any other person that attended the event, but to our surprise, his coming to Aba became a carnival of sort.

“What the residents of Aba did today showed that despite all efforts to rubbish the name of Kalu by his successors and detractors were in vain and I challenge those who are claiming that Kalu is nothing in the state including the present and past governors to come to streets of Aba without their rented crowd, I am sure that Aba will pelt them with stone and water,” the source concluded.

Orji Kalu who came in the company of Dr. Alex Otti, 2015 and 2019 gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Benjamin Kalu; member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu; member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Mike Ukoha, Abia State House of Assembly Minority Whip and member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Emeka Wogu; former Minister of Labour and Productivity,  his brothers; Mascot and Nnanna Kalu among other dignitaries while speaking at the event said that he was at the event to be part of the requiem mass since he would not be able to attend Chief Enukeme’s burial at Neni, Anambra State on Friday.

Senator Kalu described Enukeme as a successful business and generous man, using the opportunity to remind everyone in attendance that death is an inevitable end for every mortal.

In his homily, the Catholic Diocese Bishop of Umuahia Arch-Diocese and the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji asked Christians to have in mind that they are pilgrims on earth.

He emphasized on the need for people to live a life worthy of emulation and to also use what has blessed them with to touch the lives of people around them.

The Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Bishop Augustine Ndubueze Echema said late Enukeme, known as Tonimas used his wealth for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and also affected the lives of people around him.

In his speech, the Chief mourner, Azubuike Enukeme said “before our father died, he called us (the children) together and asked us to keep the fire burning. We will ensure that we will keep the fire burning.”