The Chairman of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will complete his two terms in office considering the level of successes recorded in his bold economic, social and political policies.
The Abia-North Lawmaker stated this on Tuesday while fielding questions from Journalists at the lobby of the National Assembly.
Senator Kalu said that the economic reform policies of the President were already delivering positive economic results.
Using the manufacturing sector as an example, Senator Kalu said that the cost of production had reduced to 18.5 percent down from 23 percent last year.
“The good news is that we shall win again and President Tinubu will return.
“To be honest with you, Asiwaju will win. Many Presidents in Nigeria who have not done very well—I won’t call any names and they won their second term. We are appealing to Nigerians to support us.
“We are not going to ruffle ourselves with the APC convention. We have only one Presidential candidate whom is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In line with democratic ethics we are not looking for any other person or candidate but the problem of Nigeria is that you people don’t like to consolidate gains of reforms” he said.
Senator Kalu who also urged Nigerians to exercise more patience with the administration, said the stability in the exchange rate is also another indication that the President’s reforms are yielding positive results.
“It might be very difficult today, very hard and people are complaining but the reform is trickling down, somebody just told me this morning that the Dollar is 1490 to the naira, so the reform is working but we should be patient.
“I am a manufacturer and I can tell you that manufacturing costs have gone up. Last year it was 23 percent but early this year it has gone down to about 18.5 percent. You can confirm from the the Lagos Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (LCCCI) that what I am giving you is the real fact.
“I believe that there is hope in these reforms. It is difficult everywhere in the world but the most important thing is that now the President is taking time with his economic team and you can see that the President is making wilder consultations.”
Senator Kalu pointed out that the ruling Party the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains firm in its decision to cede its 2027 Presidential ticket to President Tinubu in line with the zoning arrangement to maintain a North-South power balance.
True account of June 12
Among other responses, the former Senate Chief Whip faulted the narrative of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election given by the former military president Ibrahim Babangida in his autobiography, ‘A Journey in Service’ describing IBB’S account as incomplete.
According to the former Abia State Governor, Babangida failed to mention the names of the principal actors that led to the annulment of the election widely adjudged as the freest, fairest, and most credible poll in the history of the country, in which Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, popularly known as MKO Abiola, was the winner.
Speaking on the recent book released by the former Military president Ibrahim Babangida, Senator Kalu stressed that he anticipates a second edition as IBB’S account of June 12 failed to capture the entire events that led to the annulment of the 1993 Presidential elections.
Though Senator Kalu appreciated Babangida for admitting that Moshood Abiola was the true winner of the election, he however said that the former Military president ought to have mentioned the names of those behind the annulment including the courageous role played by the then National Electoral Commission (NEC), Humphrey Nwosu.
“Ibrahim Babangida is my master and everybody knows and I am going to visit him very soon and discuss with him.
“I am waiting for the second edition. The first edition did not reveal all the realities of what happened, especially when it concerns Humprey Nwosu and INEC.
“Babangida should tell us, not only Abacha, he should mention names of those who stopped him from declaring Abiola as the winner.
“I was there and I know what happened. If he publishes a second edition and mentioned their names, Nigerians will know what really happened” he said.
Senator Kalu also thanked Babangida for erasing the false narrative that the Igbo tribe orchestrated the 1966 coup events that led to the military mutiny that ousted the then civilian administration led by Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa.
“Because people are thinking that Babangida lied but I am very grateful the coup they called Igbo coup has been clarified, although I don’t need Babangida to tell me that the Coup was not executed by the Igbos. That is why I am a true Nigerian.
“That coup was a Nigerian coup planned and executed by the Military and some people failed to do their job and Igbos are bearing the brunt and that is not fair to the Igbos.
Full Presidential Honours
Following the confession of Ibrahim Babangida, Senator Kalu appealed to President Tinubu to accord the Late Presidential Candidate Moshood Abiola full Presidential honours.
Senator Kalu urged President Tinubu to swear in Abiola as the duly elected President of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election in postmortem and including the inclusion of his Presidential portrait among other past Presidents of the Country.
According to Senator Kalu through such, the Abiola family will be healed and compensated from the electoral tragedy which befell them and the nation.
“Abiola won the election and there is no doubt about that. I want them to put Abiola’s picture where other former President’s pictures are placed. I will appeal to President Tinubu to swear him in postmortem.
“I am thankful to President Buhari who gave him the National Award but he should be sworn in postmortem so the family will be healed and given the rights they give to former Presidents”.
Investing in agriculture
Senator Kalu urged Nigerians to protect the Nation’s democracy, he also paid solidarity to the Nigerian Army for their sacrifices while calling for investments in the agricultural sector as well as the elimination of terrorists occupying the Nation’s land areas.
Senator Kalu discouraged the disbursements of cash grants to individuals to solve the economic challenges;
“The Nigerian democracy has come to stay and I am very grateful to the Nigerian Army and their sacrifices. Some of them are being killed in the battlefield trying to safeguard our Nation.
“We must go back to Agriculture to make progress. We must retrieve our lands occupied by bandits and other Terrorists. Dashing of money should stop. We should put those money to Agriculture and other productive ventures”, Kalu said.
When asked for his opinion on the face off between Senator Natasha Akpoti and the Senate President Godswill Akpabio over sitting arrangement, Senator Kalu declined to comment saying that the incident was a matter that will be settled within the Senate chambers as it would be an error to discuss such matter in public.
Emmanuel Ukoh
Comments are closed.