The lawmaker representing Abia North in the national assembly, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has declared his readiness to contest for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027 if President Bola Tinubu should pull out of second term race.
The former governor of Abia State said this when he appeared on Channels Television on Thursday evening.
He said, “I am qualified to be president and I am competent.
“We already have a candidate in our political party unless he decides not to run. If the party gives me the opportunity, it would be a privilege. It’s not about my personal desire, but about the opportunity the party offers.”
Though, despite his readiness to run for the presidency, Kalu stressed that his main focus for 2027 is to return to the Senate and continue his legislative work, unless circumstances change.
Speaking on the issue of economic challenges in Nigeria, the business mogul attributed the hardship in the country to a lack of strong economic systems.
He criticized the country’s historical failure to develop a stable economy over the last 60 years and urged for a reduction in government spending.
“Nigeria’s economic struggles are due to the absence of proper economic processes. We’ve never had an organized economy. We lack essential infrastructure like stable electricity, and the institutions that support economic growth are weak,” Kalu explained. He further praised President Tinubu’s efforts to rebuild these institutions, though he acknowledged that some of the decisions being made could be contentious.
“President Tinubu is making tough decisions for the future, and while some might agree or disagree, they are necessary to strengthen the economy. Nigerians are indeed suffering, but much of this stems from decades of poor economic decisions,” Kalu said.