Tinubu Deserves Eight Years, Has No Competition In 2027, Says Kalu

Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has declared that President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the opposition parties are in disarray and pose no serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kalu said the APC had a strong political structure and widespread support across the country, adding that party members and lawmakers were already mobilising to secure victory for Tinubu in their respective constituencies.

The senator spoke during an interview on Arise Prime Time, where he also defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, discussed his political ambitions, his relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his role in the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“President Tinubu will win. President Tinubu has no competition. I’m telling you because the opposition are in disarray. What we are seeing are social media. We are not seeing something on ground,” he said.

He added that the APC’s electoral strength was built on collective support rather than Tinubu’s personality alone.

“Our party is very huge. Supporters of the party, they are large and we have rich people supporting this party. The party is not about President Tinubu. It’s about the collective interest of many people,” he said.

Kalu also called for continuity in Nigeria’s political leadership, arguing that Tinubu should be allowed to complete two terms in office, just as his predecessor, the late President Muhammadu Buhari, did.

“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.

On the economic situation, the senator acknowledged that Nigerians were experiencing hardship but maintained that the government’s reforms were necessary to stabilise the economy.

He argued that the administration had achieved macroeconomic stability, particularly in the foreign exchange market and fuel pricing, while urging the government to focus on improving manufacturing, tackling insecurity and enabling farmers to return to their farms.

“You can’t do reform without things going difficult. Nowhere in the world you say I want to reform the way it’s been done since 1960 to go with the anthem of the world, which is what the president is singing about,” he said.

Kalu, however, admitted that the economic difficulties were affecting businesses, disclosing that factories were struggling to generate enough revenue to pay workers’ salaries.

“I’m not enjoying because factories are not producing enough money to pay salaries,” he said.

He argued that stabilising the economy would enable manufacturers to plan their operations, particularly in relation to foreign exchange costs, production and investment.

On his reported ambition to become Senate President, Kalu said he would accept the position if offered but insisted that he would not lobby Tinubu or anyone else for the office.

“If I’m given, I will take. Because these are God’s gifts,” he said.

He maintained that his immediate ambition was to remain in the Senate, make laws and groom younger politicians to take over leadership responsibilities.

“My ambition is to just sit in the Senate, make laws for them and move ahead,” he added.

On the Senate investigation into the Safe Schools Initiative, Kalu said his committee was making progress but would not disclose its findings until the report had been submitted to the Senate and its leadership.

He explained that the committee would present its findings as soon as the National Assembly resumed from its break.

Earlier in the interview, Kalu claimed to have played a significant financial role in the formation of the PDP, saying he funded meetings, aircraft, accommodation-related arrangements and other activities aimed at building the party ahead of the return to democratic rule in 1999.

He clarified, however, that he was not the only wealthy individual who contributed financially, mentioning former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Yomi Edu and General Theophilus Danjuma among others.

“I gave them life wire. When people had no money, I brought in the money to form the party,” he said.

Kalu also accused Obasanjo of reneging on an alleged agreement to serve only one four-year presidential term between 1999 and 2003, saying their relationship deteriorated over disagreements about constitutional governance and the treatment of some state governors.

He said he had opposed what he described as the former president’s use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pursue governors, including Joshua Dariye and a former Bayelsa State governor.

The senator also disclosed that his international business interests previously included arms trading, which he said he abandoned after his parents advised him to stop.

Asked whether he supplied arms to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Kalu said he sold to anyone who could afford to buy, adding that the transactions involved heavy weapons sold from country to country.

He denied working as an agent for foreign intelligence organisations, including the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad, although he acknowledged having relationships with people associated with the organisations.

Kalu further disclosed that he had financial interests in media organisations, including The Sun and The Telegraph, as well as other media businesses he declined to identify because of confidentiality agreements.

He insisted that he had never interfered with editorial decisions or directed journalists to publish stories for or against any individual.