Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has declared that he remains the most important politician from the South-East, insisting that the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, does not surpass him in political relevance.
Kalu made the remarks while appearing as a guest on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he dismissed Obi’s influence in the region and argued that his own political achievements were far greater.
“He (Obi) is not my leader, I am the most important politician from that zone,” Kalu stated.
The former governor boasted about his past political feats, recalling his time in the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), a party under which he said he achieved significant milestones.
“I have won two states before under PPA. I ran for president before, my 4.9 million votes in 2007 are still there. We achieved a lot with PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors, and other appointments under President Yar’Adua,” he said.
Asked about his political future, Kalu said age would not stop him from running for the presidency if the opportunity arose, citing former U.S. President Donald Trump as an example of an older leader who remained active in politics.
“If I’m healthy and God gives me life, I can still contest. The question is not age, it’s competency. It’s about what is in my brain and what I can deliver,” he added.
On whether he believed Igbos should rally behind Peter Obi in future elections, Kalu avoided a direct endorsement, instead addressing the calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He cautioned against making public pronouncements on Kanu’s case, stressing that the matter was still before the courts.
“You know this case is before a court of competent jurisdiction. It is not a very good thing for me to come out openly to start canvassing my opinion without knowing the position of the court or that of the President. The President is watching the judiciary closely,” Kalu said.
He disclosed that he had held discussions with President Bola Tinubu on the matter but declined to reveal details of their conversations.
“I have discussed this issue with the President many times. But I cannot tell you what I discussed with him. It’s a privilege for me to have spoken to the President. What matters is that everyone wants a peaceful resolution,” he added.
The senator underscored his respect for judicial processes, urging Nigerians to allow the courts to decide on the case rather than making public judgments.
“All of us are doing what I call backdoor diplomacy because of the utmost respect I have for the judiciary. We must not make Justice Nyako or any judge look like a fool by discussing this case publicly. Nigerians must respect the decisions of our courts,” Kalu said.
He further stressed that only the Attorney-General of the Federation has the legal authority to discontinue such a case, while urging restraint among those demanding Kanu’s immediate release.
