21st January, 2022
Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu has recounted how his affinity with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu caused his problem with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Kalu, who is aspiring to be Nigeria’s president in 2023, recounted his experience in an interview with Silverbird Television on Friday.
According to him, when Tinubu was seeking re-election as governor of Lagos State in 2003 and was lagging behind, he helped him which made him win the election.
Kalu said Tinubu was not a threat to his presidential ambition and that he was not a threat to his ambition, as they are very close friends, with their friendship deep-rooted.
He stated that when he and his wife went back to Abia as Governor, nobody was occupying his house in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Kalu added that his children were in school at that time and some were schooling at Corona schools while one was in French International school in 1998 and that they were living with Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
“So we are like a family and politics cannot separate us. In 2003 when Tinubu was seeking re-election and I saw that he was lagging behind, I assisted him and it’s part of what caused my problem with former President Obasanjo.
“So we’re a family and we cannot quarrel because of politics. He might have his idea on how to do it and I might have my own idea on how to do it. But all I know is that if we meet at Eagle Square, I will give a very good account of myself,” he said.
Kalu also said he did not want to join the presidential contest at the initial time, which was why he told Tinubu, Governor Dave Umahi, former Senate President, Pius Anym and others that he was not aspiring to be president.
He explained that a couple of days after his discussion with them, elders from the West, North, South-East and Niger Delta came to see him on 5 January, 2022 and that he went to see a couple of them.
Kalu said he flew from his village to tour some places and that he met with them in the North, West and somewhere in Lagos and Warri and returned on the 8th back to Igbere, his home town, and also met with the elders of his community and that they gave him the nod to aspire for the presidency.
“That is why I have not gone back to tell these people who I initially told that I will not run that I am now going to run. I will still have a meeting with them and tell them formally that I am going to run for the president,” Kalu added.