Abia-North Lawmaker, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has dismissed speculations that the growing wave of endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 is a response to fears about opposition coalitions.
Instead, the former Senate Chief Whip emphasised that the endorsements are driven by Tinubu’s bold leadership and transformative policies.
Addressing members of the Senate Press Corps in Abuja on Tuesday, Kalu, who chairs the 10th Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, asserted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no fear of any coalition, describing the party as “passionate about Nigeria” and focused on nation-building.
Providing responses questions asked by the Senate Journalists at the National Assembly lobby;
“No, no, no. I don’t think a party like APC has anybody to fear. We are the ruling party. We love Nigeria. That’s why many of us are building industries across the country to create jobs even outside government,” Kalu said.
According to him, criticism from the opposition is expected and even necessary in a democratic setting, but such criticism should not be mistaken for weakness on the part of the ruling party.
“The opposition must fight. That’s their job. But our job is to deliver, and we are doing our job perfectly well. In the coming years, Nigerians will appreciate what Mr. President is doing,” he added.
On the President’s recent visit to the Vatican, which had sparked debates due to his faith, Kalu offered a spirited defence, explaining that Tinubu attended at the personal invitation of Pope Francis whom he described as a personal friend of the President.
“It would have been disrespectful if he ignored the Pope’s invitation. About 1.8 billion Catholics, including myself, appreciate that gesture. In 2027, Catholics will remember that,” he noted.
When asked about the Southeast endorsement and zone’s party loyalty, the former Abia Governor further disclosed that the Southeast caucus of the APC had long thrown its support behind Tinubu, even before other endorsements emerged.
He pointed to a prior endorsement led by key Southeast figures, including governors and federal legislators.
“We endorsed him weeks ago, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodimma and co-chaired by the Governor of Ebonyi and the Deputy Speaker.
“We initiated the national endorsement,” he said, proudly displaying his attire which he described as symbolic of his support for the President.
Giving his verdict on Tinubu’s Economic Policies, Kalu praised the President for making tough but necessary choices like subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, acknowledging the current hardships but emphasizing that these changes were essential for long-term national stability.
“I’m not a politician. I’m a businessman. And this is the first President who ended the cheap money culture. People made money from nothing before. This President is telling us: make money the right way or don’t make it at all,” he stressed.
He maintained that Tinubu’s policies are already impacting the macroeconomic level, and projected that their benefits would soon reach everyday Nigerians.
“Tinubu is not just a Southern President. He will be re-elected by both North and South because it’s in the national interest. We don’t want the country to break, we want it to thrive,” he stated.
On his plans for 2027, Kalu, while responding to a question on his own political future and track record, reaffirmed his commitment to serving his constituents and Nigeria with integrity and passion.
He said that while infrastructure and education have been priorities, his focus will shift to agriculture come 2027.
“You must love people to serve them. That’s why I work hard. I don’t even keep a bank account. Everything I have goes into helping people — through roads, schools, agriculture, and my foundation,” he declared.
Kalu also urged all Nigerian leaders regardless of party affiliation to speak the truth and focus on uplifting the people rather than trading blame or harboring bitterness.
