Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has declared that he would resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ever disrespects the Catholic bishops or members of the opposition.
Kalu made the declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday while addressing recent controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
He dismissed claims that the President insulted the Catholic Church following reactions to comments made by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja.
According to Kalu, President Tinubu maintains a cordial relationship with the Catholic Church and has consistently granted audiences to Catholic bishops whenever requested.
“Tinubu did not insult the Catholic Church. This is not the first time the Catholic Church has gone to President Tinubu,” Kalu said.
He described the Catholic Church as the conscience of society, noting that religious leaders have historically spoken on issues affecting national development across Africa.
“In every country, from DRC, Angola to South Africa, and anywhere, the Catholic and other churches are always the conscience of the country,” he added.
The former Abia State governor explained that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has, for decades, issued statements on the state of the nation after its annual meetings, insisting that such interventions should not be interpreted as political opposition.
“I do not see anything wrong in what the Catholic bishops said. Since the military rule, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference holds its conference every year, where they talk and issue a statement about the state of the nation,” he stated.
Kalu noted that religious leaders often raise issues that politicians may be unwilling to tell the President directly.
“For me, Tinubu is not an enemy to the Catholic bishops. The President has a very good relationship with the Catholic Church.”
“Anytime they asked for an audience, he has given it to them because any president dodging Catholic bishops is dodging himself. What politicians cannot tell the President, the Catholic bishops will say it.”
The controversy followed reports that the bishops expressed concerns about Nigeria’s economic hardship, insecurity, and governance during a recent meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
Although Cardinal Onaiyekan later disclosed that the President disagreed with some of the bishops’ assessment of the country’s situation, Kalu insisted that Tinubu neither insulted nor threatened the clerics.
He also rejected claims that the President had shown hostility toward opposition figures.
“It is not true. If you hear him well, he said we will have a fair contest, and he will not touch anybody,” Kalu said.
He then made his strongest declaration yet.
“Any day President Tinubu disrespects the opposition or Catholic bishops, I will resign from the APC.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Kalu expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term, arguing that the administration has recorded notable achievements in infrastructure, security, and economic reforms despite current economic challenges.
However, he admitted that the ruling APC has not done enough to communicate its achievements to Nigerians.
“A lot has been done by this government. We simply have not marketed those achievements well,” he said.
Assessing the administration’s performance, Kalu gave President Tinubu a score of 65 percent, expressing optimism that it would improve further in the coming months.
“On a scale of 100, President Tinubu has done about 65 per cent. By September or October, that performance will be close to 70 per cent,” he stated.
The senator also dismissed suggestions that opposition parties could easily defeat the APC in 2027, arguing that they remain divided and lack the unity needed to mount a serious electoral challenge.
According to Kalu, the APC still enjoys a strong political structure across the country and remains well-positioned ahead of the next general election…..See more