By Isaac Mission
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has appealed to Nigerians living abroad to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.
Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate and is a former governor of Abia State, made the appeal on Wednesday during an engagement with Nigerians in Maryland, United States.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kenneth Udeh, the senator discussed the state of Nigeria’s economy, the Tinubu administration’s reforms and other national issues during the meeting.
Kalu defended the government’s economic policies, saying the impact of major reforms could not be expected to become fully visible within a short period. He praised Tinubu for taking what he described as difficult decisions aimed at stabilising the economy and improving the environment for businesses and investment.
Drawing comparisons with economic transformations in countries such as Singapore, Kalu argued that fundamental reforms require time before their full benefits become apparent.
“Most Nigerians don’t understand what President Tinubu is doing,” Kalu said, stressing that the administration’s immediate priority was to stabilise the country and create favourable conditions for economic activities.
Kalu Opposes Return of Fuel Subsidy
The Abia North senator also rejected calls for the reinstatement of the petroleum subsidy.
Kalu argued that returning to the former subsidy arrangement would not address Nigeria’s economic challenges and could reopen avenues for fraud and financial abuse.
He urged the Federal Government to consider alternative measures that would ease the pressure of rising living costs on Nigerians rather than bringing back the subsidy.
According to him, his opposition to the subsidy is informed by both his political experience and his knowledge of the petroleum industry.
Kalu further alleged that the previous subsidy system benefited fraudulent operators, while noting that its removal had reduced the level of extravagant spending associated with some beneficiaries.
Insecurity Remains a Major Concern
While acknowledging improvements in some macroeconomic indicators, Kalu said insecurity continues to undermine the impact of economic reforms at the grassroots.
He noted that farmers and workers in some parts of Northern Nigeria are unable to carry out their activities because of insecurity, adding that pockets of insecurity also persist in parts of the South-East and other regions.
He therefore called for greater efforts to restore security and create an environment where Nigerians can farm, work and conduct businesses without fear.
Kalu maintained that although the Tinubu administration had taken important steps on the economic front, more still needed to be done to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
He also expressed support for Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as a potential successor in the state’s next governorship race.