Tag: Orji Uzor Kalu

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has blamed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity on what he described as “political sabotage” targeted at undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Sunday, the former Abia State governor dismissed claims that the President is overwhelmed by the security crisis, insisting that powerful interests are deliberately sponsoring violence to discredit the administration.

Kalu said, “This insecurity is politically instigated. People are sponsoring attacks because they want Tinubu to fail. They did the same to former President Jonathan. It is all about 2027.”

Kalu maintained that Tinubu is fully engaged with security agencies and receives intelligence reports unavailable to lawmakers.

“The President is working day and night. Leadership is not a bed of roses,” he said, citing the suspension of the President’s scheduled engagements on Sunday as evidence of his hands-on approach.

The Senator expressed confidence that recently abducted schoolchildren would be rescued, assuring that “service chiefs have gone fully on duty” and that security agencies are tracking down the perpetrators.

Kalu argued that tackling insecurity cannot rest solely on the Federal Government, insisting that many state governments have failed to deploy the powers already available to them.

READ ALSO; Let’s rethink schools’ closure

He recalled his own experience in Abia State, saying he established the Bakassi Vigilante outfit which, according to him, “drove criminals away” and restored safety in Aba.

“If most of these states want to declare a state of emergency and send me there for six months, I will keep it peaceful. I know what to do,” he said.

Pressed to name those allegedly sponsoring insecurity, Kalu declined.

“I can’t mention names. The intelligence community is on it. If they feel it’s necessary to identify them, they will,” he said.

On calls for state police, the Senator reminded Nigerians that constitutional amendments require the concurrence of two-thirds of state assemblies.

“In the 9th Senate, we tried but the states did not approve it. You can’t blame the National Assembly,” he said.

Kalu also addressed the conviction and sentencing of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, saying while the separatist leader must answer for alleged incitement that led to deaths and destruction, the matter ultimately requires a political resolution.

“Kanu incited people and people died. But emotions will not solve this. The Igbo nation should move from confrontation to negotiation,” he said.

He disclosed ongoing engagements with federal authorities to explore a non-judicial resolution, adding that he had previously pushed for Kanu’s bail in 2017 during the Buhari administration.

Kalu condemned attacks on Justice James Omotosho, saying aggrieved parties should follow the appellate process.

“Justice Omotosho is just a messenger of the court. If you are not satisfied, you appeal. Insulting a judge is unacceptable,” he warned.

He confirmed that Kanu’s legal team has already filed an appeal and said his own intervention would remain strictly political.

Kalu disclosed that the National Assembly is holding continuous consultations on the security situation.

“I just left the Senate President’s office. We are working, even on Sundays. We will hand our resolutions to the security agencies,” he said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) on his 65th birthday.

In a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised Senator Kalu’s enduring patriotism, business acumen, and dedication to national progress. 

Reflecting on their longstanding relationship, the President recalled their shared experience as members of the “Class of ’99” Governors, a group that emerged at the dawn of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

“Senator Kalu, my friend, is a patriot whose life embodies resilience, generosity, and the transformative power of visionary leadership. On this milestone, I celebrate his contributions to our nation’s economic and political tapestry,” the President stated. 

Read Also: Tinubu, Tchiani meet soon over Nigeria-Niger ties

Tinubu highlighted Kalu’s achievements beyond politics, particularly his entrepreneurial legacy through the founding of Slok Holding. 

The company, which spans interests in banking, media, and other key sectors, has been credited with creating hundreds of jobs and contributing meaningfully to the Nigerian economy.

The President also commended Kalu’s past service as Senate Majority Whip, describing him as a consistent voice of national unity and public interest. 

He emphasised that their collaboration over the decades has been marked by mutual respect, even when divided by differing political ideologies.

Tinubu concluded his tribute with a heartfelt prayer, asking for God’s continued blessings upon Senator Kalu, including renewed strength, wisdom, and many more years of service to the nation and humanity

• Ex-governor restates support for Tinubu’s reelection

Senate Committee Chairman on Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) Orji Uzor Kalu has rejected call by Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) to run for president in 2027.

Kalu, in a statement yesterday by his media office, said he would not participate in the race since he had “publicly endorsed President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for re-election”.

NYLF had urged Kalu to run with either the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, or the Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri, as running mate.

The forum, made up of 40 Northern groups, made the call after a visit on former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

NYLF, which named Obasanjo as its patron, added that Labour Party(LP) presidential candidate for the 2023 general election  Peter Obi was also its preferred presidential candidate.

But Kalu, in a statement by George Maduka, said President Tinubu needed all encouragement on his ongoing economic reforms.

Read Also: Court orders MTN to pay N840m for trademark infringement

Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate, called on the opposition to concentrate on their political needs and desist from dragging him into their battles.

The statement partly reads: “Nigerian politics takes place within a framework of a federal and presidential republic and a representative democracy, in which the citizens have rights to vote and be voted for.

“Senator Kalu has the right to decide on what he should be voted for and the Presidency in 2027 is definitely out of it.

“He has publicly endorsed President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for re-election and he is committed to the required work needed.

“Kalu is a strong believer in Tinubu’s economic reforms. He knows that to sustain the reforms, there must be a focus on long-term stability, inclusivity, and adaptability and the President needs a maximum of eight years to achieve it.

“The former governor has utmost respect for the President and their friendship spans across decades, long before they became governors in 1999.

“Kalu is known for standing firm in what he believes in and he has taken his stand on Tinubu and will continue to encourage him on his bold progressive economic reforms.’’

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and representative of Abia North Senatorial District, has rejected calls by the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The Northern coalition, consisting of 40 youth groups, had urged Kalu to run for president with either Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal or Adamawa State Governor Umar Fintiri as his running mate. 

The appeal was made after a courtesy visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where Obasanjo was named the group’s patron.

During the visit, NYLF President Comrade Eliot Afiyo listed Kalu and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as the coalition’s preferred contenders for the 2027 race, while suggesting Governors Lawal and Fintiri as potential vice-presidential candidates.

However, in a statement signed by his media aide, George Maduka, Kalu distanced himself from any presidential ambition, reiterating that his position on the 2027 election remains unchanged. 

Read Also; Why Muslims must sustain acts of worship after Ramadan, by Sheik Yunus

He also cautioned against political distractions, particularly from opposition groups.

Kalu emphasized that there is no internal dispute within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding its 2027 presidential candidate and urged Nigerians to focus on supporting President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms.

He called on the oppositions to concentrate on their political needs and desist from dragging him into their battles

The statement partly read: “Nigerian politics takes place within a framework of a federal and presidential republic and a representative democracy, in which the citizens have rights to vote and be voted for. 

“Senator Kalu has right to decide on what he should be voted for and presidency in 2027 is definitely out of it. 

“He has publicly endorsed President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for re-election and he is committed to the required work needed. 

“Kalu is a strong believer of Tinubu’s economic reforms . He knows that to sustain the reforms, there must be focus on long-term stability, inclusivity, and adaptability and the President needs the maximum eight years to achieve it.

“The former Governor has utmost respect for the President and their friendship spans across decades, long before they became governors in 1999… 

“Kalu is known for standing firm in what he believes in and he has taken his stand on Tinubu and will continue to encourage him on his bold progressive economic reforms. 

“Kalu believes the prosperity of Nigeria will be endless with a successful reform. Since the return of independence, no Nigerian leader has summoned the courage to reform the dwindling Nigerian economy and since Tinubu has taken the bull by the horns, Kalu believes that the best Nigerians can do is to also encourage him and re-elect him in 2027 to complete the good job he has started.” the statement read.

A former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu failed on Friday in a bid to stop the federal government from appealling the September 29, 2021 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja stopping his prosecution on a N7.1billion money laundering charge.

In two rulings on Friday, a three-member panel of the appellate court rejected the objection by Kalu and his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited to the application for leave to appeal out of time filed by the Fed Govt through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Kalu and Slok had argued, among others that the Court of Appeal, having delivered a judgment on March 6, 2024 striking out an earlier appeal by the Fed Govt, the court had become functus officio and could not longer take any further steps on the case.

Justice Ishaq Sanni, who read the rulings on Friday, noted that the March 6, 2024 judgment did not determine the substance of the appeal and thus, was not a judgment given on the merit.

Justice Sanni held that the Court of Appeal, in the March 6, 2024 judgment only struck out the appeal on the grounds that the record of appeal was not properly certified, because the official of the Federal High Court, who certified the record did not include his or her designation.

He held that since the March 6 , 2024 judgment was delivered after the three months allowed an aggrieved party to appeal, the Fed Govt was in order to have filed its application for extension of time to appeal.

Justice Sanni proceeded to issue an order extending the time within which the Fed Govt should file a notice of appeal against the September 29 judgment of the Federal High Court.

He also ordered the Fed Govt to file its notice of within 14 days.

Read Also: Tinubu must complete eight years – Uzor Kalu

The rulings were on the applications marked: CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/430MI/2024 (FRN v. Orji Uzo Kalu and two others) and CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/431MI/2024 )FRN v. Slok Nigeria Limited and two others.

By the Friday’s ruling, the Fed Govt is expected to file fresh notice of appeal to challenge the September 29, 2021 judgment by Justice Ekwo, prohibiting the Fed Govt from further prosecuting Kalu and Slok following an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court voiding the proceedings leading to their earlier trial and conviction.

Kalu was charged and tried with Slok and a former Account Director in Abia State Government House, Ude Jones Udeogu, for their alleged complicity in diverting the N7.1b from Abia State’s coffers.

The three were convicted and, while Kalu and Udeogu were sentenced to 12 and 10 years imprisonment, Slok was wound up.

But, upon an appeal by Udeogu, the Supreme Court, in a judgment on May 8, 2020, set aside their trial and conviction on the grounds the trial judge, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal, ought not to have continued to hear the case.

In the judgment given in an appeal, marked: SC/62C/2019 filed by Udeogu, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in the case.

Although Kalu and Slok were not appellants in the appeal by Udeogu, they (Kalu and Slok) later tendered the judgment before a Federal High Court in Lagos and the court applied the judgment to them and set them free.

But, when the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) applied for a retrial, Kalu and Slok sued to challenge the move to retry them.

They argued among others, that a retrial would subject them to double jeopardy, having earlier been tried and convicted on the same charge, an argument Justice Ekwo upheld in his September 29, 2021 judgment.