Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has admitted that his political allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has tied his hands regarding the long-standing agitation for an Igbo presidency.
Kalu, who spoke on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Wednesday night, said that despite personally believing that the South-East deserved a shot at the presidency, he was fully committed to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in line with his party’s decision.
“Well, I am in a party (APC) where we have made the decision to field President Tinubu for a second term,” Kalu said. “Even if I feel it is time for an Igbo president, those thoughts are no longer feasible, because I am caged up in a party where I have signed to nominate President Tinubu. The party I belong to has chosen a presidential candidate, who is President Tinubu.”
However, the former governor of Abia State stressed that fairness, justice, and equity matter more than where a president comes from.
“Let me tell you, we (the Igbos) really need the presidency,” he noted. “But if a president can be fair to all Nigerians, can be fair to all zones and bring justice and equity, nobody should be thinking about where the president comes from.”
When asked if President Tinubu has been fair to the South-East, Kalu replied cautiously, “Well, I am not in a position to say now. All I know is that they are giving them whatever constitutional say.”
He further defended Tinubu, acknowledging the challenges of governance and the pressures that come with leadership.
“You know, when you are in a position of authority, there are a lot of heats from everywhere,” Kalu said. “So, President Tinubu is trying to address these issues.”
