2023: ‘Orji Kalu Presidency Will Heal Scars Of Civil War’

A pro-democracy group, Political Movement Alliance (PMA), has declared support for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to run for president in 2023.

Although Kalu had said he is not interested in the presidency, the Senate Chief Whip recently said that he would not decline the offer if persuaded to run in 2023.

PMA’s national secretary, Akinpelumi Bode, said 36 state coordinators of the group declared support for Kalu at the end of their monthly convention held on Monday in Abuja.

They hinged their decision on the need to heal “the scars of the civil war” and ensure equity, justice and fairness by electing a president of Igbo extraction.

“We want to seize this opportunity to announce to Senator Kalu that we are solidly, physically, mentally, emotionally and financially behind him, to lead this country come 2023. We therefore wholeheartedly endorse him for presidency in the 2023 General Election,” said the group.

On why power should shift to the South East in 2023, the group said Igbos have for the past 61 years “stood behind several leaders from different tribes in times past and now they expect Nigerians to stand by them in their quest for presidency.

“If Nigeria truly wants to heal from the scars of the civil war, an Igbo man must be supported to lead Nigeria.

“The 2023 presidential poll is just over 20 months away, and there are already permutations on the zone that should produce the president.

“Majority are of the opinion that it is the turn of the South East, which has yet to produce a president since the return of democracy in 1999,’’ it said.

The group added that, “Nigeria needs a de-tribalised leader with national and international contacts, who would consolidate on the infrastructure gains of the current administration, but most importantly, better manage the country’s diversity, retool the economy and deal conclusively with insecurity.

“The next president of Nigeria asides being a de-tribalised politician, should be an accomplished successful business entrepreneur and should have verifiable successful local and international business empires which he has established over the years.

“Using the aforementioned as a yardstick, Sen. Orji Kalu is the most accomplished among other business executives who ventured into politics, and he has successfully transitioned to become a successful political leader having also governed Abia State. He made iconic blueprints as the governor of Abia for eight years.’’

Kalu expressed the same sentiment during a recent interview he granted to Channels TV.

“I believe if Nigerians and the Nigerian people want to be fair, a Southeast president from Igbo extraction will be the next thing to do,” he said on Channels TV’s ‘Sunday Politics’ in April.