Thursday, October 9, 2025 - Former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu, says he remains the most important politician from the South-East region, not the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics
Today, Kalu downplayed Obi’s political relevance in the region.
He insisting that his political achievements surpassed
Obi’s.
“He (Obi) is not my leader, I am the most important
politician from that zone,” Kalu boasted.
“I have won two states before under PPA. I ran for president
before, my 4.9 million votes in 2007 are still there. We achieved a lot with
PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors, and other appointments under President
Yar’Adua.”
Responding to a question on his future political ambitions,
Kalu said age would not deter him from running for president if given the
opportunity, citing former U.S. President Donald Trump as an example.
“If I’m healthy and God gives me life, I can still contest.
The question is not age, it’s competency.
“It’s about what is in my brain and what I can deliver.”
When asked whether he believed Igbos should rally behind Obi
ahead of future elections.
During the interview, Kalu addressed the renewed agitation
for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, cautioning against making public pronouncements on a
matter still before the courts.
“You know this case is before a court of competent
jurisdiction. It is not a very good thing for me to come out openly to start
canvassing my opinion without knowing the position of the court or that of the
President. The President is watching the judiciary closely.”
He said that discussions are ongoing at various levels, but
he would not divulge private conversations held with President Bola Tinubu on
the matter.
“I have discussed this issue with the President many times.
But I cannot tell you what I discussed with him. It’s a privilege for me to
have spoken to the President. What matters is that everyone wants a peaceful
resolution,” Kalu said.
Senator Kalu underscored his respect for the judiciary,
urging Nigerians to allow the courts to conclude their work before drawing
conclusions.
“All of us are doing what I call backdoor diplomacy because
of the utmost respect I have for the judiciary. We must not make Justice Nyako
or any judge look like a fool by discussing this case publicly. Nigerians must
respect the decisions of our courts,” he said.
The ex-governor emphasised that only the Attorney-General of
the Federation has the legal power to discontinue such a case.
He also urged restraint among those calling for Kanu’s
immediate release.
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