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From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District and former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the candidate to beat in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the administration has successfully stabilised Nigeria’s macroeconomy despite persistent hardship at the grassroots.
Speaking Wednesday night on Politics Today anchored by Channels Television with Seun Okinbaloye, Kalu defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, dismissed claims that the President is at loggerheads with the Catholic Church, acknowledged the reality of hardship facing Nigerians, and maintained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains well-positioned for re-election.
Responding to questions on whether the Federal Government owed Nigerians an apology over the prevailing economic hardship, Kalu said current realities must be viewed within the context of global economic disruptions rather than in isolation.
According to him, conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel and the United States, as well as disruptions to global shipping routes, have placed enormous pressure on economies across the world.
He argued that countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are also grappling with economic challenges, stressing that Nigeria is not insulated from global economic shocks.
When confronted over the economic policies of the previous APC administration, particularly the Ways and Means financing by the Central Bank, Kalu admitted that money was printed under the previous government but insisted the National Assembly cautioned the executive against the practice.
He rejected attempts to hold him personally responsible, explaining that legislators perform oversight through designated committees and do not participate in executive decision-making.
“We advised the executive that they shouldn’t print money, and we have equally advised President Tinubu against it,” he stated, maintaining that the current administration has ended that policy.
On the state of the economy, Kalu drew a distinction between macroeconomic stability and the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“The macro side of the economy has been stabilised. The exchange rate is stabilising, fuel prices are stabilising, foreign direct investments are coming in and confidence is gradually returning.”
However, he acknowledged that the microeconomic environment remains under severe strain.
“As a businessman, I manufacture goods and I know the microeconomy is not doing well. President Tinubu himself knows Nigerians are suffering.”
The senator attributed the weak microeconomic conditions largely to insecurity, arguing that widespread banditry and insurgency have prevented farmers from returning to their farms, thereby affecting food production and prices.
According to him, the administration’s ongoing security operations are designed to restore farming activities and ultimately improve living conditions.
“In a reform process, you see the good, the bad and the ugly. Reform is not a Christmas party. It takes time before the benefits trickle down.”
Catholic Bishops were right
On the controversy surrounding the recent engagement between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Kalu firmly defended both the President and the bishops.
He maintained that there was nothing unusual about the bishops speaking on the state of the nation, describing such interventions as part of the Church’s longstanding tradition.
“The Catholic Bishops were right. If they had said anything less than what they said, they would no longer be the conscience of this country.”
Kalu stressed that President Tinubu neither insulted nor disrespected the bishops.
According to him, comments credited to presidential aides should not automatically be interpreted as the President’s personal position.
“The Villa is not President Tinubu. I was a governor and I understand how communication works. President Tinubu has a very good relationship with the Catholic Church.”
The former governor noted that successive Catholic bishops have consistently criticised governments regardless of political affiliation and said their interventions should be seen as constructive guidance rather than political opposition.
“What politicians cannot tell the President, the Catholic bishops will tell him because they have no political interests to protect.”
He described the bishops as moral voices whose counsel should always be welcomed by any responsible government.
Kalu also drew a distinction between the official communiqué issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and subsequent personal opinions expressed by individual clerics, insisting that both should not be conflated.
President never insulted the Church
Reacting to suggestions that the Presidency should apologise to the Catholic Church over comments made by presidential aides, Kalu disagreed.
“The President did not say anything that requires an apology.”
He insisted that President Tinubu enjoys a cordial relationship with the Church and would never deliberately disrespect the Catholic hierarchy.
“So convinced am I that if President Tinubu ever disrespects the Catholic Church, I will resign from the APC.”
Tinubu has no serious challenger
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Kalu reiterated his confidence in President Tinubu’s electoral prospects.
He argued that despite economic challenges, the administration has recorded significant achievements in infrastructure, security and economic reforms which have not been adequately communicated to Nigerians.
According to him, the APC has not effectively marketed the administration’s accomplishments.
“A lot has been done by this government. We simply have not marketed those achievements well.”
Assessing the President’s performance, Kalu awarded the administration a score of 65 per cent, expressing confidence that it would improve further before the next election.
“In the scale of 100, President Tinubu has done about 65 per cent. By September or October, that performance will be close to 70 per cent.”
He maintained that while the opposition could attempt to capitalise on prevailing economic frustrations, it lacks the cohesion required to defeat the APC.
“If they were united, there might be some concern, but they are not.”
He added that President Tinubu remains politically formidable and enjoys overwhelming support within the ruling party.
“Our party will not allow President Tinubu to lose the election. We will campaign until he wins.”
Kalu also expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure victory in Abia State despite Governor Alex Otti’s popularity.
While predicting that Otti could retain the Abia governorship, the senator maintained that Tinubu would still win the presidential vote in the state.
He described Otti as a personal friend but denied the existence of any political alliance between them.
Democracy allows dissent
Addressing protests over economic hardship, Kalu defended citizens’ constitutional right to demonstrate, saying protest remains an essential component of democracy.
He also cautioned against relying solely on narratives circulating on social media, arguing that misinformation and artificial intelligence-generated content increasingly distort public discourse.
While admitting that the government still has significant work to do, Kalu maintained that President Tinubu’s reforms are laying a solid foundation for long-term economic recovery.
“The government is doing well, but we have not yet reached where we want to be. The macroeconomy has been stabilised. The next task is ensuring those gains translate into improved living standards for ordinary Nigerians.”
He concluded by reaffirming his earlier position that President Tinubu remains the strongest contender for the presidency in 2027, insisting that if current reforms continue to yield results, the APC will retain power through the ballot.
