By Abbanobi -Eku Onyekachi, Abuja
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will complete his two terms in office, citing his successes in economic, social, and political policies. Kalu, who represents Abia-North, made this statement on Tuesday while speaking to Senate Correspondents at the National Assembly lobby.
Kalu’s endorsement of Tinubu’s leadership is not surprising, given his previous statements praising the President’s listening nature and responsive governance. However, Kalu also used the opportunity to criticize former Military President Ibrahim Babangida’s account of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential Election in his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service.’ Kalu described IBB’s narrative as incomplete, accusing him of failing to mention the key individuals responsible for the election’s annulment, which is widely regarded as one of the fairest polls in Nigeria’s history, with Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola as the winner.
Explaining why Tinubu will win again, Kalu said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remains firm in its decision to cede its 2027 Presidential Ticket to Tinubu in line with the zoning arrangement to maintain a North-South power balance. He added that the economic reform policies of the president are already delivering positive economic results. “The cost of production had reduced to 18.5% from 23% last year,” Kalu informed.
Kalu also commended Babangida for erasing the false narrative that the Igbo Tribe orchestrated the 1966 coup events that led to the military mutiny that ousted the then civilian administration of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. However, he appealed to Tinubu to accord the Late MKO full presidential honours, urging him to swear-in Abiola as the duly elected President of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election in Postmortem. This would include the inclusion of his Presidential portrait among other Past Presidents of the Country, believing that Abiola’s family will be healed and compensated from the electoral tragedy which befell them and the nation.
Urging Nigerians to protect the nation’s democracy, Kalu paid solidarity to the Nigerian Army for their sacrifices. He emphasized the need for investment in the agricultural sector and reducing terrorist occupations of the nation’s land areas to the barest minimum. Additionally, Kalu discouraged the disbursement of cash grants to individuals as a solution to economic challenges, instead advocating for more sustainable and impactful measures.
