Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), has stated that the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by governors, lawmakers, and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 presidential election is driven by his bold leadership and transformative policies.
The former Governor of Abia State dismissed speculations that the growing wave of endorsements for President Tinubu’s re-election bid is a response to fears about opposition coalitions, emphasizing that the ruling All Progressives Congress has nothing to fear from any coalition.
Answering questions from journalists on Tuesday at the National Assembly, the former Senate Whip, when asked if the endorsements were motivated by fear of opposition alliances, described the APC as “passionate about Nigeria” and focused on nation-building.
Kalu said, “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.”
“There’s no fear at all. We are the ruling party, and we love Nigeria. Many of us are building industries to create jobs for our people,” he said. “If the opposition doesn’t criticize us, who will? That’s their job. 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.”
On President Tinubu’s visit to the Vatican during the Pope’s inauguration, Kalu clarified that the President had a personal relationship with the Pope, stating, “The Pope personally invited him. He would have disrespected 1.8 billion Catholics by refusing.”
He also dismissed criticisms that a Christian official should have attended instead, saying, “Mr. President is not just a Muslim; he is also a global leader. Respecting a papal invitation is beyond religion.”
When asked about the Southeast’s endorsement and the zone’s party loyalty, the former Abia Governor disclosed that the Southeast caucus of the APC had long thrown its support behind President Tinubu, even before other endorsements emerged.
Senator Kalu, pointing to a prior endorsement led by key South-East figures, including governors and federal legislators, said, “We endorsed him weeks ago, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma and co-chaired by the Governor of Ebonyi and the Deputy Speaker.”
“We initiated the national endorsement,” he added, proudly displaying his attire, which he described as symbolic of his support for the President.
Giving his verdict on Tinubu’s economic policies, Senator Kalu hailed the President for making tough but necessary choices, such as subsidy removal and exchange rate unification. While acknowledging current hardships, he emphasized that these changes were essential for long-term national stability.
He said, “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.”
The former Governor maintained that Tinubu’s policies were 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 said.
Responding to a question on his plans for 2027 and his political future, Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to serving his constituents and Nigeria with integrity and passion. He noted that while infrastructure and education had been his priorities, his focus would shift to agriculture in 2027.
He said, “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.”
Senator 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.