Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, has come under fire for suddenly backing the Northeast to produce the President in 2023.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Kalu had cited the refusal of the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to specifically zone their presidential tickets to the South-East region as reason for his decision.
The former Abia Governor and chieftain of the ruling APC, shortly after pulling out of the presidential race, declared support for Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, his long-time friend.
He has since been travelling with Lawan to some states to meet with APC delegates.
Kalu’s action is seen by majority of Igbo stakeholders as sabotage against the collective interest of southeasterners.
Criticising Kalu for his “embarrassing position”, the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku ancient kingdom, and Kalu’s former ally, High-Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu (Bawas), posited that personal interest was the actual motive behind Kalu’s sudden decision to back Lawan.
According to Chief Akwukwuegbu, Kalu is craftily positioning himself for a juicy office in the event that power is retained by the North beyond 2023. Some say he is eyeing the vice-presidency role.
“Orji’s move is a gambit. He knows that he is not serious about it. He only wants to ally with the North to get his better share,” Vanguard quotes Akwukwuegbu as saying.
“Orji Kalu doesn’t want to lose out which is not the best for us as a people. There must be sacrifices. Then if he caves in so easily, when does he think other regions will find Ndigbo worthy of the position?
“I love the courage of other Igbo presidential aspirants still in the race because without a formidable fight nobody will give it to us.”
Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi; Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State; and Anyim Pius Anyim, ex-President of the Senate, are some of the several Igbo politicians hoping to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
I warned earlier that this current race for the presidency is filled with CLOWNS and JOKERS. This Orji Kalu happens to qualify as one.
You have not seen anything yet, more to come.
THESE ARE UNSERIOUS PEOPLE.