Kalu: I’ll Quit APC If Tinubu Ever Disrespects Catholic Bishops, Opposition
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has declared that he would immediately resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ever disrespects the Catholic bishops or members of the opposition.
Kalu made the declaration during an interview on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television, on Wednesday, while reacting to the controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s recent meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
The former Abia State governor dismissed claims that the President insulted the Catholic Church following comments credited to Cardinal John Onaiyekan regarding the outcome of the meeting.
According to him, the President has consistently maintained a cordial relationship with the Catholic Church and has always granted audience to its leadership whenever requested.
“Tinubu did not insult the Catholic Church. This is not the first time the Catholic Church has gone to President Tinubu,” Kalu said.
He stressed that the Catholic Church, like other religious institutions, plays a vital role in providing moral guidance and constructive criticism to governments across the world.
“In every country, from DRC, Angola to South Africa and elsewhere, the Catholic and other churches are always the conscience of the country,” he added.
Kalu further noted that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has, over the years, maintained the tradition of issuing communiqués after its annual meetings to address national issues, insisting that such interventions should not be misconstrued as political opposition.
“I do not see anything wrong in what the Catholic bishops said. Since the military era, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has always held its conference every year, where they discuss national issues and issue statements on the state of the nation,” he stated.
He argued that religious leaders often speak on issues politicians may be reluctant to raise before the President.
“For me, Tinubu is not an enemy to the Catholic bishops. The President has a very good relationship with the Catholic Church. Anytime they ask for an audience, he grants it because any president dodging the Catholic bishops is dodging himself. What politicians cannot tell the President, the Catholic bishops will say it.”
The controversy followed reports that the bishops expressed concerns over the country’s economic hardship, insecurity and governance during their recent meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
Although Cardinal Onaiyekan later disclosed that the President disagreed with some of the bishops’ assessment of the nation’s condition, Kalu maintained that Tinubu neither insulted nor threatened the clerics.
The senator also dismissed allegations that the President had demonstrated hostility towards opposition politicians.
“It is not true. If you listened to him very well, he said there would be a fair contest and that he would not touch anybody,” Kalu said.
Reaffirming his position, the lawmaker declared:
> “Any day President Tinubu disrespects the opposition or the Catholic bishops, I will resign from the APC.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Kalu expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term in office, citing what he described as the administration’s achievements in infrastructure development, security and economic reforms despite prevailing economic challenges.
He, however, admitted that the ruling APC has not done enough to effectively communicate the administration’s accomplishments to Nigerians.
“A lot has been done by this government. We simply have not marketed those achievements well,” he said.
Assessing the administration’s overall performance, Kalu awarded President Tinubu a score of 65 per cent, expressing optimism that the rating would improve in the coming months.
“On a scale of 100, President Tinubu has done about 65 per cent. By September or October, that performance will be close to 70 per cent,” he stated.
The senator also dismissed suggestions that opposition parties could unseat the APC in 2027, arguing that they remain fragmented and lack the cohesion required to mount a formidable electoral challenge.
According to him, the APC continues to enjoy a strong political structure across the country and remains well positioned ahead of the next general election.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
