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I’ll cherish being the arrowhead for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 – Kalu
“Let me tell you, if this economy does not borrow, it will collapse. That’s the truth. That’s where we are,” were the words with which Orji Kalu, Senator representing Abia North, at the National Assembly, drew attention to the parlous state of the Nigerian economy currently being managed by President Bola Tinubu.
Kalu, former Governor of Abia State, who spoke on Monday while appearing as a guest on Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television, while acknowledging that he was not a member of the committee that scrutinises loan requests, insisted that such borrowing is necessary for economic survival.
Kalu, who sparked public reactions last week when he appeared at the Senate wearing a customised outfit emblazoned with the inscription “Tinubu for President 2027,” told his host: “Of course, the committee of foreign and local debts used to scrutinise them. I am not a member of that committee. You know these jobs are done mainly at the committee level.”
Speaking on the outfit, he said it was the evidence of the ingenuity of his constituents in Aba, dismissing that his action symbolised sycophancy, stating: “Who else would have made that dress other than Aba tailors? It was made in Aba, dyed in Aba and delivered in Aba. It is only Aba people who are hardworking that can do it. It’s very fashionable and I will wear it again.
“Can a man like me be sycophantic? I am not running for anything. Where am I running to? I’m only running to return to the senate. It’s not political sycophancy. I am a man that can’t be sycophantic. It is a uniform for 2027. Sure, my house manager just made it available that morning, and I wore it. I don’t see anything wrong in wearing it. It’s you press (media) people that saw something wrong. INEC has lifted the ban on the campaign, but we are preparing.”
Kalu, who said he would be glad to be Tinubu’s official campaign manager in 2027, said the President should not be viewed through the lens of regional politics, adding that there was nothing wrong in All Progressives Congress starting early to project him for the 2027 reelection.
Hear him: “What is wrong with that? I will be very happy to accept it and do the job for him. I don’t have anything to regret in doing the job. President Tinubu is not the president of the south but the candidate of Nigeria, and I am a Nigerian. I have always said this — every Nigerian should stop addressing himself or herself by region.
“I have asked for legislation where I suggested we remove all local government and state information on forms; people should only fill in that they are Nigerians.”
“We are a political party, and there must be activities of a political party. We had a midterm assessment of our party where the whole party’s stakeholders gathered. I was in the Senate to do my legislative job, and the journalists ran over me. It’s my dress, and I have the right to wear anything I like.
“There is freedom of association and freedom of speech. I also have the right to say what I want to say. I’m not regretting what I said. I work hard for every penny. Most rich people are waiting on these beds to take money from subsidies and sell dollars. These are what they have been doing. But it’s not about all Nigerians; I said most Nigerians, not all.”
“I think about the people more than most of those attacking me. They have money, but they can’t build any industry in Nigeria. I still have about 14,000 Nigerian employees on my payroll today, and I’m building more industries to employ more. When I speak the truth, you know I don’t bend my words. I’m not a politician in the first instance — I just found myself doing this.
“President Tinubu needs a few more years. I think the economy will have a good sense of direction in two years, and the benefits will start coming. This economy has been in shambles, and it was not caused by anybody.
“Tinubu promised to reduce poverty, and the public must be realistic about expectations. There is no rocket science about it. Nigerians should be patriotic. The whole world is still feeling the effects of COVID.”
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
Tinubu finally sends Dakingari’s name to Senate after ambassadorial posting row
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