I’m Not Certain Nigerians Are Ready For Igbo Presidency – Orji Kalu

Prior to the upcoming election, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, stated on Wednesday that Nigerians are not prepared for a president of Igbo descent.

The former governor of Abia State remarked on Wednesday’s episode of Channels Television’s “The Verdict” that the 2023 general elections would not be the finest opportunity for the Igbo people, despite the fact that one of the well-liked contenders, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, is their son.

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The APC senator who represents the Abia North Senatorial District emphasized the necessity for the region to win by amassing a majority of votes from five of the other six regions.

The 18 candidates running for president in this year’s election do include several people of Igbo descent.

Dismissing the chances of Obi emerging victorious in the polls, Kalu said “I’m well-experienced; I ran for President in 2007 and I’m not sure Nigerians are not yet ready for a President of Igbo extraction.

“I’m not sure because I have tried to nose around that. We have five other regions to come up with and I am not sure.

“The people of the South-East are the best professionals but not the best politicians.

“We do politics with emotions and I want Igbos to stop doing politics with emotions; I want Igbos to do practical politics,” he added.

Speaking about the candidate chosen by the G5—the five disgruntled governors of the People Democratic Party—Kalu claimed that they are secretly trying to ensure Bola Tinubu, the APC’s presidential nominee, wins.

Governors Nyesom Wike of the Rivers, Samuel Ortom of the Benue, Seyi Makinde of the Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of the Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the Enugu have not publicly endorsed any presidential contender, despite having welcomed them to their state for campaigns.

Meanwhile, Ortom had earlier hinted his interest to work with the candidate (Obi) endorsed by the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

“The G5 came together and they are working together and I don’t even believe the governor of Benue State, possibly, he just wants to use that (endorsement) to win an election because the G5, from inside sources, have made up their minds that they are not going to work for any other person than Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the APC,” the lawmaker maintained.

He added that he was confident Tinubu will triumph in Abia State and the Igbo-dominated region with a resounding victory.