15th November, 2021
By Leonard Okachie
Former governor Orji Kalu, has disowned posters indicating that he has already declared to run for the presidency in 2023 under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC which flooded Umuahia, the capital of Abia State on Monday.
The posters, which bore the inscription: “Vote Dr Uzor Kalu for President – A New Nigeria is here” which were largely seen at Abia Towers’ roundabout, on Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
The posters, allegedly powered by the Arewa Youth, have other inscriptions that described Kalu as a heavy weight politician and a nation builder as well as a man poised to salvage the economy.
But Kalu’s media aide, Mr Maduka Okoro, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his boss did not have anything to do with the posters.
Okoro said that the former governor has not declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidency.
He described it as the handiwork of those who either love Kalu for the good he is doing or those who with other intentions.
“We did not paste posters of Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu anywhere. We have not contemplated on that and we have not made any categorical statement.
“We are busy trying to create history for our people – renovating schools, building roads and other projects, so that our people can enjoy the dividends of democracy,” Okoro said.
He said that Kalu, who is representing Abia North Senatorial zone, would address the press if he had such intention.
NAN reports that though Kalu has not publicly declared his presidential ambition, there are clamours for a president of an Igbo extraction – come 2023.
One of those drumming for support for the emergence of an Igbo person as president is the Association of Area Community in Igboland.
Its National President, Alhaji Mohammed Umaru, who made the appeal at a news briefing on Sunday in Umuahia, said that it was important to support the Igbo people actualise their presidential ambition come 2023.
Umaru, said the group was a non-political organisation, made up of members from all the northern states living in the South-East Geo-Political Zone.
He expressed optimism that an Igbo person had all it takes to salvage the country.
“The North, West and South-South have all ruled the nation as executive president.
“This is the time we should give our consent for an Igbo executive president,” Umaru told newsmen.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)