Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Senator Orji Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has issued a firm warning that he will resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Tinubu ever disrespects the Catholic Church or the political opposition. Kalu made the declaration on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today, where he addressed the growing controversy surrounding President Tinubu's recent meeting with the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
The former Abia State governor and Senate Chief Whip dismissed suggestions that President Tinubu had insulted the Catholic Church following comments made by Cardinal John Onaiyekan after the bishops' meeting at the Presidential Villa. According to Kalu, the President maintains a cordial relationship with the Catholic Church and values its role as the nation's moral conscience. "Any day President Tinubu disrespects the opposition or Catholic bishops, I will resign from the APC," Kalu declared. "The President can never insult the Catholic bishop, knowing him. The President didn't say anything that needs apology."
The controversy erupted after Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, disclosed that the bishops had told President Tinubu during their July 28, 2026 meeting that Nigeria was "bleeding" and that the country was facing severe economic hardship and insecurity. The Cardinal also raised concerns about the credibility of the 2027 electoral process. His comments sparked a war of words after presidential aides publicly challenged aspects of his account, drawing criticism from sections of the Christian community who viewed the responses as disrespectful to both the Cardinal and the Catholic Church.
Kalu defended the bishops' right to speak on national issues, describing them as the conscience of the nation. "The Catholic bishops were right. If they had said anything less than what they said, they would no longer be the conscience of this country," he said. He argued that the Catholic Church has, for decades, consistently spoken truth to power regardless of which political party is in government. "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 noted.
The senator also rejected allegations that President Tinubu insulted Cardinal Onaiyekan or disrespected the Catholic Church, arguing that comments made by presidential aides should not be mistaken for the President's personal position. "The Villa is not President Tinubu. I was a governor and I understand how communication works," Kalu said. "President Tinubu has a very good relationship with the Catholic Church. Anytime they have asked for an audience, he has given it to them because any president dodging Catholic bishops is dodging himself."
Kalu further dismissed calls for the presidency to apologise to the Catholic Church, insisting that Tinubu had done nothing to warrant an apology. "The President did not say anything that requires an apology," he stated. He also addressed concerns raised by the bishops that President Tinubu's reported remark that "all is fair in politics" could signal support for electoral manipulation. Kalu insisted the statement had been misunderstood, saying the President was merely acknowledging the competitive nature of politics and was not suggesting that elections should be manipulated or won at all costs.
On the broader political landscape, Kalu expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term in the 2027 general election, describing him as the candidate to beat. He rated the administration's performance at about 65 per cent, expressing optimism that the score would rise in the coming months. "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 said. He argued that the opposition remained too fragmented to pose a serious electoral threat to the APC, stating: "If they were united, there might be some concern, but they are not. Our party will not allow President Tinubu to lose the election."
Kalu also defended the federal government's economic reforms, saying the Tinubu administration has stabilised the macroeconomy. He acknowledged, however, that the benefits are yet to reach ordinary Nigerians. "The macro side of the economy has been stabilised. The exchange rate is stabilising, fuel prices are stabilising, foreign direct investments are coming in and confidence is gradually returning," he said. "As a businessman, I manufacture goods, and I know the microeconomy is not doing well. President Tinubu himself knows Nigerians are suffering."
The senator attributed the weak microeconomic conditions largely to insecurity, arguing that improved security would enable farmers to return to their lands and ease food inflation. "In a reform process, you see the good, the bad and the ugly. Reform is not a Christmas party. It takes time before the benefits trickle down," he said. As the 2027 elections draw nearer, Kalu's warning that he would resign from the ruling party if the President ever disrespects the Catholic Church or the opposition stands as a significant statement from a prominent APC leader, underscoring the delicate balance the Tinubu administration must maintain with religious institutions and democratic principles.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram
Add comment
Comments