Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action by relieving non-performing ministers and security chiefs of their duties he reaches the milestone of two years in office.
Speaking during a wide-ranging interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ with Seun Okinbaloye, the former Abia State Governor emphasized the need for bold leadership, warning that emotionally driven appointments could further deepen Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
“Both security chiefs and Ministers, some of them should go. President Tinubu must be courageous enough to sack some of these Ministers,” Kalu stated firmly.
The APC senator representing Abia North disclosed that he has privately offered President Tinubu counsel regarding certain officials whom he believes have failed to meet expectations.
Although he declined to name those he believes should be dismissed, Kalu made it clear that public service should be based on competence rather than loyalty.
“If he will take my advice, most of these Ministers I have apprised of, and I’ve talked to him privately some of them should go,” he said.
“If he (President Tinubu) will take my advice, some of these security chiefs should go. There must be no sentiment when it comes to redeeming Nigeria.”
Kalu further attributed the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria, especially in agrarian areas, to political sabotage.
According to him, certain elites are deliberately stoking unrest with the intention of undermining Tinubu’s leadership for their own political gain.
“The insecurity in Nigeria is politically induced by politicians and businessmen. Some of them are not even looking for money, they just want to grab power,” he alleged.
Turning to the economy, the former Senate Chief Whip voiced concern over the rampant use of foreign currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar, in everyday transactions including real estate.
He warned that this trend not only signals weak currency regulation but also poses a threat to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.
“The use of dollar bills on the street should stop. Landlords and estate agents using dollars as exchange should not happen in Nigeria. If we want to survive, we must take control of our currency,” he charged.
While acknowledging the hardship currently experienced by many Nigerians, Kalu expressed cautious optimism, stating that some of the reforms being championed by the Tinubu administration are beginning to show signs of impact at the macroeconomic level.
“The macro side is coming up, but Nigerians in the lower area are still suffering. These changes are still trickling down; it’s going to take another one to two years,” he noted.
Citing the transformational leadership of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, Kalu called on Nigerians to exercise patience and allow more time for Tinubu’s policies to take root.
He also stressed the importance of unity and collective effort in national development.
“We are all friends, Tinubu, Atiku, Amaechi, we were all Governors together. Let’s come together and think about the man on the street,” he stated.
