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Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has stated he will leave the ruling party under a specific condition.
He declared on Wednesday that he would resign from the All Progressives Congress if President Bola Tinubu ever disrespects the Catholic bishops or the opposition.
Kalu made this statement while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He dismissed claims that the President insulted the Catholic Church following recent remarks by Catholic leaders on the state of the nation.
The senator insisted that Tinubu maintains a cordial relationship with the Catholic Church.
He described the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria as the conscience of the nation whose views should not be misconstrued as hostility.
He said, “Tinubu did not insult the Catholic Church. This is not the first time the Catholic Church has gone to President Tinubu. In every country, from DRC, Angola to South Africa, and anywhere, the Catholic and other churches are always the conscience of the country.”
He added, “I do not see anything wrong in what the Catholic bishops said. Since the military rule, the Catholic Bishops Conference hold its conference every year, where they talk and issue a statement about the state of the nation.”
Kalu emphasized the importance of listening to religious leaders.
He noted, “For me, Tinubu is not an enemy to the Catholic bishops. The President has a very good relationship with the Catholic Church. Anytime they asked for an audience, he has given it to them because any president dodging Catholic bishops is dodging himself. What politicians cannot tell the president, the Catholic bishops will say it.”
He concluded with his ultimatum regarding the administration.
He stated, “It is not true. If you hear him well, he said we will have a fair contest, and he will not touch anybody. Any day President Tinubu disrespects the opposition or Catholic bishops, I will resign from the APC.”
The controversy followed recent exchanges between the Presidency and Cardinal John Onaiyekan.
The cleric had recounted a meeting with President Tinubu where he expressed concerns over Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship and insecurity.
Presidential aides publicly challenged aspects of his comments, drawing criticism from sections of the Christian community.
Critics viewed the responses as disrespectful to both the Cardinal and the Catholic Church.
Speaking on the 2027 general election, Kalu expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure a second term.
He argued that the administration’s achievements had not been adequately communicated to Nigerians despite ongoing economic difficulties.
He added, “A lot has been done by this government. We simply have not marketed those achievements well.”
Assessing the administration’s overall performance, Kalu stated that the President had achieved about 65 per cent of his targets.
He predicted that the rating would improve in the coming months.
He noted, “On a scale of 100, President Tinubu has done about 65 per cent. By September or October, that performance will be close to 70 per cent”.
He also argued that the opposition remained too fragmented to pose a serious electoral threat to the APC.
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