Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has dismissed claims that the United States is targeting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying American concerns are directed at jihadist groups responsible for terror attacks in Nigeria.
He also said that Tinubu does not have real opposition in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the senator representing Abia North said recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump and some American lawmakers about violence in Nigeria were misunderstood.
“Nigerians are clapping hands, and political opponents are thinking the U.S. is after Tinubu’s government. No, they are going after the jihadists,” Kalu said.
The former Abia State governor noted that both Christians and Muslims have fallen victim to extremist attacks, stressing that such threats must be confronted without compromise.
“There are jihadists who just want to destroy Nigeria. We should blacklist them without pity so that they will be smoked out,” he stated.
Kalu, who described himself as “pro-America,” said he had previously discussed Nigeria’s security situation with two former U.S. Presidents and several serving senators, all of whom expressed willingness to support Nigeria in its counter-terrorism efforts.
“Before President Trump says a word, the American intelligence community must have found out where these terrorists are located. You can see that the Nigerian Air Force is already acting, possibly using information shared by the U.S. to bomb terrorist hideouts. That’s how it should be,” he said.
He also linked the spread of arms across Africa to past U.S. interventions in Libya and Iraq. “When you killed Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, it became a problem because those people were maintaining their borders. After their deaths, light and heavy arms were spread all over the world, and we are suffering from it today,” he said.
On the 2027 presidential election, Kalu said Tinubu faces no real opposition, describing the contest as ‘Tinubu versus Tinubu.’
“Has he gotten anyone contesting against him? The election is Tinubu vs Tinubu, just like Soludo vs Soludo. The President has no options. Our party is fully on the ground and with the people,” he said.
He credited Tinubu’s economic policies with gradually improving national stability and praised the Senate under Godswill Akpabio for backing the administration through what he called “pro-people legislation.”
“Whatever the problem, the Senate is more interested in making laws that will help President Tinubu overcome the economic problems our people are going through. We are focusing on ensuring Nigerians can eat three times a day,” Kalu said.
Acknowledging the ongoing economic hardship, he maintained that the macroeconomic indicators were showing signs of recovery.
“As a businessman, I am feeling the pain too. The macro economy is doing well, but the micro economy is not. Foreign investors are coming in. What is left is for this progress to trickle down so people can eat daily and return to farming,” he said.
Kalu also dismissed reports of political defections and alleged moves to impeach the Senate President.
“Neither I nor other senators, nor the President, have ever forced anybody to join our party. Whether Governor Alex Otti joins or not is up to him. But I will work 100% for the APC, campaign in the state, and ensure victory for President Tinubu and all our candidates.
“There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen. We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen,” he added.