Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections, while rejecting calls for a return to petroleum subsidy….
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections, while rejecting calls for a return to petroleum subsidy.
Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, spoke on Wednesday in Maryland, United States, where he also canvassed support for Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The former Abia State governor, who is seeking re-election on the APC platform, was hosted by Nigerians and Lagos indigenes in the Diaspora and fielded questions on the economy, Tinubu’s reforms and the country’s political direction.
Kalu described Hamzat as a competent choice for Lagos, citing his long experience in the state government.
“He has been in the government of Lagos State from 2006 till today. He understands government, he understands our people, he understands Nigeria, he understands the Yorubas, he understands the Hausas and the Igbos.”
He said Hamzat could be trusted to build “a new Lagos, a new Nigeria, where everybody will have a say in the country.”
Defending Tinubu’s economic policies, Kalu said Nigerians should understand that major reforms could take years to deliver their full benefits.
He compared the administration’s approach with economic reforms undertaken by countries such as Singapore, saying the results of such policies were not achieved overnight.
“It’s very difficult to do reforms. Today, you see people celebrating today that he did a reform that is one of the best in Singapore. Yes, it’s true. But it took years!”
Kalu, who disclosed that he contested the presidency in 2007 before stepping down, said his political experience had helped him understand the difficulties of governing Nigeria.
“So, what President Tinubu is doing, I understand very well. Most people don’t understand. Most Nigerians don’t understand.”
He said the government’s immediate task was to stabilise the economy and create a conducive environment for businesses and citizens.
However, Kalu acknowledged that while the macroeconomic situation had improved, Nigerians continued to face difficulties at the microeconomic level, particularly because of insecurity.
“The macro area has done well, but micro has not done very well because of insecurity.”
According to him, insecurity was preventing farmers from returning to their farms and restricting economic activity in parts of northern Nigeria, the South-East and other parts of the country.
Kalu strongly rejected calls for the restoration of fuel subsidy, describing the former system as vulnerable to fraud and abuse.
“I believe that bringing back subsidy is not best for Nigerians. It’s not an option to the economic development of Nigeria. Government can do other things, not fuel subsidy.”
The senator, who said his position was informed partly by his exposure to the petroleum business, alleged that many companies that benefited from the former subsidy regime were fraudulent.
“We were about 143 companies that were doing subsidy, and I can tell you that half of the 143 were fake.”
He also claimed that the removal of subsidy had reduced conspicuous spending among some of its beneficiaries.
“You can see the level of private jets have reduced in Nigeria [laughter] because there’s no more subsidy.”
Kalu praised Tinubu for taking what he described as a difficult but necessary decision.
“President Tinubu took a major decision that most people cannot take, and this is what Nigeria requires.”
Despite his defence of the administration, Kalu said Tinubu still had significant work to do, particularly on security.
He said Nigeria had moved beyond the initial phase of economic stabilisation and should now focus on stimulating growth.
“What President Tinubu has a lot of work to be done in the next couple of months and years, is to reform, to bring back the security dynamics back to normal.”
Kalu said improved security would enable farmers to return to their farms, businesses to operate in rural communities and local councils to function more effectively.
“What we need for the growth is to fight insecurity, farmers will go back to farm, people will go back to work in the rural areas, local government will have autonomy, local government councils will start disbursing money, and society will become normal.”
The senator also appealed to Nigerians, particularly those from the South-East, to avoid dividing their votes along ethnic lines ahead of 2027.
He urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to support the APC and work towards what he called political consolidation.
“So, I will also appeal to you people to support our party. To support us.”
Kalu said Nigeria’s challenges required cooperation rather than ethnic and political division.
He concluded by calling for greater unity, compassion and mutual assistance among Nigerians.
“This is the time for consolidation for the government of Nigeria, for the people of Nigeria. There’s a lot of hatred among us as Igbos, as Nigerians, as people of faith. We must love ourselves, we need love more than quarreling.”
“We need assistance more than fighting. We need hands to help each other. We need to be the brother’s keeper that we need to keep.”
