Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has said he would resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Tinubu ever disrespects Catholic bishops or the Catholic Church.
Mr Kalu made the declaration on Wednesday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he defended the president against allegations that he had insulted the Catholic Church following recent exchanges between the Presidency and Catholic leaders over the state of the nation.
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The senator dismissed claims that President Tinubu was hostile to the Catholic Church, insisting that the president had maintained a cordial relationship with the church and respected its role in national discourse.
According to him, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has historically served as the conscience of the nation by speaking on issues affecting Nigerians, regardless of the government in power.
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“President Tinubu did not insult the Catholic Church. This is not the first time the Catholic Church will visit the president. In every country—from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola, South Africa and elsewhere—the Catholic Church and other churches are the conscience of the country,” Mr Kalu said.
He noted that the CBCN had consistently issued statements on the state of the nation, including during military rule, stressing that such interventions should not be interpreted as hostility towards any administration.
“I do not see what Cardinal Onaiyekan said that was wrong. During the military era, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference met every year and expressed its opinion about the state of the nation,” he said.
Mr Kalu added that President Tinubu was not a threat to the Catholic community, arguing that the president had always maintained a constructive relationship with church leaders.
“To me, Tinubu is not a threat to the Catholic community. The president has a good relationship with the Catholic Church. Any time they ask for his opinion, he gives it. What politicians cannot tell a president, a Catholic bishop can say,” he said.
The senator also rejected suggestions that Mr Tinubu intended to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process, saying the president remained committed to conducting credible elections.
“If you heard him well, he said there would be a free and fair election and that he would not intimidate anyone. Any day the president disrespects Catholic bishops, I will resign from the APC,” he said.
His comments come amid controversy sparked by recent remarks by Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, a cardinal, who raised concerns about worsening economic hardship and insecurity during an engagement with President Tinubu. The response by some presidential media aides drew criticism from sections of the public, with some describing their remarks as disrespectful to both the cardinal and the Catholic Church.
2027 election
Speaking on the 2027 general election, Mr Kalu expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term in office, arguing that the administration’s achievements had not been adequately communicated to Nigerians.
READ ALSO: Amaechi accuses Presidency of attacking Catholic Church over Onaiyekan’s remarks
According to him, the APC had failed to effectively publicise the government’s performance in infrastructure, security and economic reforms.
“A lot has been done by this government. We simply have not marketed this government well enough,” he said.
Assessing the administration’s performance, Mr Kalu said President Tinubu had achieved about 65 per cent of his objectives since assuming office and predicted that the rating would improve in the coming months.
“By September or October, that performance will be close to 70 per cent,” he said.
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