Former Abia State governor and current senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has alleged that the killings and abductions across Nigeria are politically motivated.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Kalu claimed that bandits fomenting violent attacks in different parts of the country are sponsored by politicians seeking to destabilize President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He said the same tactic was used against former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“What we are seeing is always a routine, something that goes with the elections, and when you have an election, people will try to pressure the government in power for all kinds of things to start happening. And you can remember when President Jonathan was here, a similar thing happened,” Kalu said.
He added that both local actors and members of the international community were orchestrating the violence.
“The terrorists and the bandits are orchestrated by some members of the international community and local people who really want to destabilize the government,” he stated.
Tinubu ‘Equal to the Task’
Despite the surge in attacks, Kalu expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to handle the crisis. He noted that Tinubu had cancelled all engagements to focus on security challenges.
“Today is Sunday, and he faced security challenges. He faced everything about security. Those abducted girls will be recovered. The government is making every effort to make sure these people are recovered,” he said.
The senator linked the recent escalation of violence to comments made by US President Donald Trump, who accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christians.
Kalu suggested that the intelligence community is aware of those behind the attacks, describing them as “missionaries bought by politicians” and individuals intent on destabilizing Tinubu’s presidency.
He added that Tinubu was having sleepless nights over the security situation and praised the President’s directive to withdraw police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), redeploying them to core policing duties.
Kalu also called for stronger cooperation with the United States.
“Trump’s intervention in Nigeria would be good when the US president consulted with the Federal Government. We need to work together with the United States of America. We need that partnership,” he said.
On the Conviction of Nnamdi Kanu
Kalu, also spoke on the life imprisonment handed to separatist leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on Thursday. The senator, who actually represents Kanu’s community in the senate explained that it was unfortunate that nobody was talking about the killings of persons and number of businesses closed down as a result of the insecurity in the region, as well as persons who lost their jobs.
Highlighting the role he played in the release of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017, the former Abia governor narrated how in 2016, he gave the late President Muhammadu Buhari a condition that Nnamdi Kanu must be released before he (Kalu) could join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, he expressed the belief that although there should be a political resolution to the matter, the government must not be seen as encouraging bad behaviour.
“Let me tell you, when we focus solely on Nnamdi Kanu, we have to solve this problem holistically because there were over 30,000 Igbos that were killed. People that had their shops now have no shops. People lost their businesses.
“I used to sell my manufactured products in Aba. I know what the numbers were. And people are just talking about soldiers killed and all the rest of them. There are many people that lost their jobs. There are many people that lost their shops. There are over 30,000 Igbos that were killed in this process, and nobody talks about them. The problem of Nnamdi is what we need to solve. (It’s) a political process,” he stressed.
Besides, Kalu backed Justice Omotoso in his judgement, explaining that his decision remains a judgement of the court, which must be respected.
He recalled how he was handed down a 12-year sentence and he never insulted the judge, even when she came to the National Assembly for confirmation as Nigeria’s Chief Justice.
“I have been working with the federal government of Nigeria on how to solve this issue. And nobody should question the decision of Justice Omotosho. Because Justice Omotosho’s decision is a judgment of the court. Nnamdi Kanu’ people are going to the appellate court
“And we are using the political side to solve the problem. Because this is the area I know. I will contact the Attorney General to advise the President, to advise people who are concerned on how we can solve this problem,” he stated.
But Senator Kalu maintained that anyone who commits or is complicit in committing murder must face trial. “If you say you asked people to kill people, you must face trial,” the federal lawmaker explained.
He stressed that he put enormous pressure on Buhari before Nnamdi Kanu was released in April 2017, before the matter later escalated, leading to his re-arrest.
“We must condemn certain behaviors. You cannot rant in a court of competent jurisdiction. I take exception to it. People might say it’s good. Justice Omotosho is just a messenger of the court, and he is doing his job. If you are displeased, you go to appellate court. It’s not to start insulting the man,” Kalu maintained.
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