A former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has reacted to reports that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu was going to takeover the presidency from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had in a recent statement claimed Tinubu’s support for Buhari was for him to takeover when the president completes his tenure.
Speaking with Punch on the matter, Kalu said that Saraki’s statement would not affect the resolve of the Igbo to take over the presidency of Nigeria after the eight-year rule of Buhari.
He said, “In politics, there is no total assurance, but it would be good if the country says the war has really ended in South-East Nigeria. It would be good to have an Igbo man as president in 2023
“We are not yet there. When we get to the river, we will cross it. We are still in the Sahara now and I don’t want to dabble in the Saraki and Tinubu’s issue. Both of them are very close to me.
“Politicians can say a lot of things; they can quarrel, but we eventually come back to the drawing board and find a common ground. The Igbo are not entertaining any fear over 2023 presidency.”
The former Governor also said that most of the politicians that recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the APC, would soon retrace their steps back to the ruling party because the issues that forced them out would be resolved amicably.
The Igbere-born politician further explained that the party leadership would determine his fate in the 2023 presidential election.
He said, “It is not true that I have a presidential ambition, but let me be honest with you, I am going for Senate. My ability to run anything nationally will be decided by the party.
“The party knows what is wrong and right. The party knows that some people have been disenfranchised and have not produced president of Nigeria since after the civil war, 50 years ago.”
Kalu also called on the Senate President to resign his position.
He said, “Your party cannot be in the minority and you would want to preside over a chamber of the National Assembly; it is not possible. People should learn how to respect democratic norms. It is not about the rules of the Senate; it is about what is right and constitutional.”
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