Sen Orji Kalu (Abia North) has said that the gale of endorsements of President Bola Tinubu for second term is driven by his bold leadership and transformative policies.
Kalu, however, dismissed speculations that the endorsements were a response to fears about opposition’s coalition arrangement.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the former governor of Abia, who chairs the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, maintained that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had no fear of any coalition.
He said that with the APC’s passion for Nigeria and focus on nation-building, he didn’t think that the party had 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,” Kalu said.
According to him, criticisms from the opposition are expected and even necessary in a democratic setting, adding, however, that such should not be mistaken for weakness on the part of the ruling party.
“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,” he said.
Kalu said that the South-East caucus of APC had thrown its weight behind Tinubu, even before others started endorsing him.
“We had endorsed him weeks ago; the endorsement was chaired by Gov. Hope Uzodimma and co-chaired by the governor of Ebonyi and the Deputy Speaker (of House of Representatives).
“We initiated the national endorsement,” he said.
On the Tinubu-led administration’s economic policies, Kalu praised the president for making tough but necessary decisions like the subsidy removal and exchange rate unification.
Although he acknowledged the current hardships, he, however, emphasised that the changes were essential for long-term national stability.
“I’m not a politician but 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,” he said.
According to him, Tinubu’s economic policies were already impacting on the macroeconomic level, stressing that their benefits would soon reach every Nigerian.
“Tinubu is not just a Southern president. He will be re-elected by both the 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.
On his plans for 2027, Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to serving his constituents and Nigeria with integrity and passion.
He said that while infrastructure and education had been priorities, his focus would shift to agriculture, come 2027.
“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,” he said. (NAN)
