By Zara Maisango
In a bold declaration of confidence, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure a second term in office, emphasizing that the president's economic and political reforms are already delivering results.
The former Abia governor and Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) made this statement while speaking with journalists at the National Assembly, dismissing any speculation about a potential challenger for the APC ticket in 2027.
"The good news is that we shall win again, and President Tinubu will return. Many Presidents who have not done very well—I won’t call names—still won their second term. Asiwaju has performed, and we are appealing to Nigerians to support us,” Kalu declared.
He cited key economic indicators such as the drop in manufacturing costs from 23% to 18.5%, as well as stability in the exchange rate, as proof that Tinubu’s policies are working.
"It might be very difficult today, but the reforms are trickling down. Someone just told me this morning that the dollar is at 1,490 naira—this means the reforms are working. We just need to be patient," he added.
Kalu Questions IBB’s Account of June 12
The senator also took aim at former military president Ibrahim Babangida’s recently published autobiography, A Journey in Service, stating that his account of the annulled June 12, 1993, election was incomplete.
According to Kalu, Babangida failed to disclose the key figures behind the decision to annul the election widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.
"I am waiting for the second edition. The first one did not reveal all the realities of what happened, especially concerning Humphrey Nwosu and INEC. Babangida should tell us the full story—not just about Abacha—he should mention everyone who stopped him from declaring Abiola the winner," Kalu stated.
He further praised Babangida for clarifying that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo-led conspiracy, debunking decades of historical misrepresentation.
"Swear In Abiola Posthumously"
In a dramatic call for justice, Kalu urged President Tinubu to take an unprecedented step by officially swearing in Chief Moshood Abiola posthumously as Nigeria’s rightful president.
"Abiola won that election, and there is no doubt about it. I will appeal to President Tinubu to swear him in postmortem. His picture should be placed alongside other former presidents to heal the wounds of history,” Kalu insisted.
"Cash Grants Won’t Solve Our Problems"
Beyond politics, Kalu warned against the continuous distribution of cash grants as an economic solution, arguing that funds should be invested in agriculture and national security.
"We must retrieve our lands occupied by bandits and terrorists. Dashing money should stop. We should put those funds into agriculture and other productive ventures,” he said.
However, when pressed to comment on the recent confrontation between Senator Natasha Akpoti and Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a sitting arrangement dispute, Kalu declined, stating that it was a matter to be resolved within the Senate chambers.
As Nigeria navigates its current economic and political landscape, Kalu’s remarks set the stage for intense debates about the nation's past, present, and future.