Senator Kalu clarifies comment on President Tinubu not happy with Situation in Abia
The Chairman Senate Committee on Southeast Development Commission SEDC, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu came out to clarify the statement he made last week concerning the performance of APC in Abia State, which was misunderstood largely on social media.
Kalu while answering questions from journalists through a video chat he made public on his official Facebook page put the record straight on what he actually meant.
Kalu was asked by our correspondent, “Your Excellency, last week you made a statement, that President Tinubu wasn’t happy with the situation in Abia. Did you mean the political situation in the Abia State or APC performance in Abia State?”
Reacting to the question, Kalu revealed that it is only in Igbere his hometown that President Tinubu has slept twice across southeast and judging by the plethora of quality friends Tinubu has in Southeast that the entire Abia State giving him less than 4% in the presidential election in 2023 was completely abysmal, when compared to when Abia North alone gave former president Buhari 68% in 2019.
Kalu stated that Tinubu wasn’t happy with the low number of votes coming from Abia, but has absolutely nothing to do with capturing Abia State in the 2027 election. Kalu further stated that President Tinubu isn’t petty, but has friends across Abia State, including Governor Alex Otti.
“The president wasn’t happy with the amount of friends in our support. In Southeast, it is only in Igbere, President Tinubu has slept twice. He was baffled, for example, in 2019 when I joined the APC, President Buhari made 68% in our constituency and president Tinubu had only 4% in the entire Abia State he wasn’t happy about the political numbers APC chorn out in Abia.
“He has nothing to do with Abia State. President Tinubu is not a petty person, he has friends all over, I am sure even the governor is his friend.” Kalu said.
The former Governor of Abia State, explained that he wasn’t referring to the entire State when he made that comment, instead he was speaking to the ill performance of APC as a party in Abia. Speaking further, Kalu said that giving the president 4% in the 2023 presidential election was shameful and couldn’t have been taken lightly, even if he was the one, judging by the number of friends president Tinubu has in Abia, him being inclusive and that’s the reason he is not keen on asking for anything from the federal government due to what Abia State delivered during the presidential election.
“We are not talking about the State, rather we are talking about the performance of our party in Abia State and nobody will be happy about it, where he has a friend like me and other people that are his friends and we could only get 4%. Even though I could not believe it, I was ashamed of the result and that’s why I am not forced to demand anything from the government, because I know we didn’t do well.” Kalu revealed.
The former Chief Whip of 9th Assembly promised that come 2027 he will be at the helm of affairs fighting battles at the forefront to deliver votes for APC. Kalu confirmed that him and other leaders have very good resonance with the people and when the time comes he will persuade them to align with APC having seen what they have attracted to the state by virtue of being connected to the center.
“However, I am confirming that we will do very well. I will be in the forefront to fight for us to do well. We will beg people of our State. They have seen the amount of things we are doing in the State. We will beg them to be considerate and see the outcome. We have a very good rapport with people in our State and they will behave well.” Kalu asserted.
The international business mogul, reiterated that President Tinubu told him to go and galvanize, amalgamate and reconcile APC as a party in Abia State.
Kalu said with the support of other leaders in the State, he was committed to bringing peace amongst them in order to move the party forward, because Southeast, especially Abia State and Abia North Senatorial District must key into the center (APC) where power is currently
“I wasn’t talking about the political situation in Abia. Tinubu wasn’t happy that the party wasn’t doing well. He gave me his words to go and reorganize the party in the State. That’s exactly what I want to do, in conjunction with other leaders, because we have to fight.
“The southeast as a whole has to belong where other Nigerians belong and I am not just talking about Abia. I am saying that southeast, especially Abia and my constituency must be where other Nigerians are, it has nothing to do with our State.” Kalu opined.
At the tail end of the media chat, Kalu emphatically made it explicate that it was a slip of tongue, he wasn’t referring to displacing Governor Alex Otti when he made the statement, rather he was talking about the unacceptable performance of APC in the last general elections held in 2023.
“Kalu further revealed that he doesn’t discuss his successors in public and wouldn’t start with Governor Alex Otti, whose fate can only be decided by the electorates and not him.
The former action Governor, made the assurance that he will be with the electorates to sensitize, assuage, and encourage the them to vote for APC. Kalu made it clear that he is for APC and not for any other thing.
“I see some talking about Governor Alex Otti, and all the rest. It is not about Otti, we are talking about the election in 2023. Possibly it was a slip on my own side. I have nothing to talk about our State, because I have never discussed past governors.
“I didn’t discuss T. A Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu in public and I can never discuss governor Otti in public. All the governors can only be decided by the people of the State, it is the people that will decide their fate, not me, it is not in my hand to do so.
“So, Governors fate are decided by people who vote, the electorates and not me. All I know is that I will be with the electorates, beg and pacify them to be with APC and vote for us. I am for APC, I am not for any other thing. Thank you.” Kalu assured.
