BY AHMED AKANBI
Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has defended President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, predicted a landslide victory for him in 2027 general elections, and revealed an alleged pact that former President Olusegun Obasanjo would serve only one term before returning power to the North.
Speaking on Arise PrimeTime, anchored by Charles Aniagolu, Kalu said Tinubu has stabilised the economy at the macro level, and what remains is to turn that stability into growth, manufacturing, jobs and better living conditions. He said the next priority should be agriculture, security and giving manufacturers access to raw materials to produce at higher capacity.
“President Tinubu has been able to stabilise this economy on the macro level. What we’re battling now, they’ve stabilised economy on the macro level. What we are battling is the micro level,” he said.
He argued that no reform comes without pain, citing Brazil under former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“You can’t do reform without people suffering. You cannot, it’s not possible,” he said, adding that businesses can now plan because exchange rate and fuel prices are more predictable.
“You can now sit down as a manufacturer, plan, ‘I’m going to buy dollar and so amount, I’m going to sell and so amount.’ Before, you cannot plan. You can wake up one morning, they tell you that dollar is 2,500 naira. Those things are no longer there,” he said.
On 2027, Kalu dismissed any threat to Tinubu’s re-election, declaring “President Tinubu will win. President Tinubu (has) no competition,” he declared.
He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is huge on the ground, beyond what is seen on social media, and its members are already working to consolidate support.
“The unity of this country is very important. Let’s not question the unity. We allow President Buhari to do his eight years and go, and we must allow Tinubu to do his eight years and go,” he said.
Kalu said his fallout with Obasanjo was partly over an alleged understanding reached at Obasanjo’s Ota residence involving himself, Obasanjo and former military President Ibrahim Babangida.
According to him, Obasanjo was to serve four years and hand over to the North, to reflect the circumstances of his emergence in 1999 after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.
Asked if Babangida was to succeed Obasanjo in 2003 with Kalu as running mate, he said he could not confirm the vice-presidential part.
“Well, I cannot be certain about the vice presidency, but I can tell you, yes, this was our discussion in Ota. That he would leave, he would leave four years and give back to the North,” he said, disclosing that Obasanjo’s aide from Benue, Adobeye, was present at the meeting.