Orji Uzor Kalu
Orji Uzor Kalu, the former Governor of Abia State and Senate Chief Whip, has stated that Igbos should forget about the 2023 presidential election and wait till another time.
Kalu said he is an Igbo man to the core but would not support his brothers as he is rooting for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
He also stated that Igbos will be the biggest beneficiaries of Tinubu’s presidency.
Briefing reporters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday September 20, Kalu said the presidency is not a regional issue and can only be won with the support of other geo-political zones.
He said;
“Presidency is not a regional issue. I asked the political parties to zone the presidency to the South East. When they didn’t do that, and since presidency is not a regional issue, I had to withdraw.
“I have no problem with Igbo man being president. But we have to do it with other Nigerians. If we don’t do it with other Nigerians, it is not going to work, no matter how popular you are. It’s president of Nigeria, not president of Igboland.
“I’m an Igbo man to the core. I’m also a Nigerian to the core. If anyone from the Southeast would have been nominated for presidency, I would have been the one. So, it’s a party business. I have no grudges against anybody who is running.
“So, it is not personal. It is political and party. This thing is about party winning elections. I have chosen to be in APC. Why will I vote against Tinubu? It’s madness, and I’m not going to do it. Elections go along party line, not along tribal line.
“For me, we will wait for another time and see how all Nigerians will agree to zone the presidency to the Igboland. But for now, our presidential candidate is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu is a strategic leader, he will make his presidency beneficial to the Igbo. The Igbo will be the biggest beneficiaries of Tinubu’s presidency.”
