By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Orji Uzor Kalu, and that of Finance, Senator Sani Musa, yesterday started a campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election for a second term in office.
Kalu, a ranking senator and two-term governor, is representing the Abia North Senatorial District, while Musa is from the Niger East Senatorial District.
He spoke with journalists shortly before plenary started yesterday.
He said that since Tinubu had performed well as President, he should have been elected unopposed in the 2031 general elections.
He said, “Many Nigerian presidents who have not performed well had won a second term in the past. We are appealing to the Nigerian people to be patient with the reform process.
“We are not looking for another presidential candidate outside our party; we are fully aligned with democratic principles and supporting the sitting President.
“The good news is that we will win again in 2027. The President will return, and Nigerians will celebrate with us. That is inevitable.”
Regarding the country’s current hardships as a result of President Tinubu’s fiscal and monetary policy, Orji Kalu enjoined Nigerians to be patient, as there would soon be light at the end of the tunnel.
He said, “Reforms are complex, but they are necessary. The economy has been cut into pieces, and now we are trying to sew it back together. It is a challenging process, but patience is required.
“The President is now making wider local and international consultations before taking key economic decisions.”
Musa, who also spoke with the journalists at the ongoing public hearing on the tax reform bills, also said President Tinubu, who would spend eight years in office to ensure the efficient implementation of the fiscal legislations.
He said, “When you look at advanced economies, Mr. President has said that he wants to see Nigeria have a $1trn economy, and this is the beginning of it. We must do it in a way that is not only during Mr. President’s time.
“Mr. President is only going to stay for likely eight years. After eight years, there will be another government. So we want a law that will outlive anybody there, even us, who is making the law. We will also have to follow what we have led.”
*Kalu seeks postmortem swearing-in for MKO Abiola
Uzor-Kalu also spoke on the recent declaration by former military president Ibrahim Babangida in his book that the late Moshood Abiola won the 1993 presidential election, which he annulled then.
He asked President Bola Tinubu to conduct a postmortem swearing-in for the late MKO Abiola as President of Nigeria.
Kalu said, “I look forward to the second edition of Babangida’s book because the first did not reveal all the realities.
“I was present during the events of June 12, and I know what happened. Babangida should call out the names of those responsible for preventing the election declaration.
“The coup detat in question was not an Igbo coup; it was a Nigerian coup, executed by the military. Moshood Abiola won that election, and there is no doubt about it.”
“Since Abiola won the election, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents. I commend former President Buhari for giving him (Abiola) a posthumous national honour. Still, I would also appeal to President Tinubu to officially recognise him and place his image where it belongs. This would help bring succour to his family.”
