ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has called on Nigerians living abroad to support President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 general elections, while rejecting renewed calls for the return of fuel subsidy.
Kalu, who represents Abia North in the Senate, made the appeal on Wednesday in Maryland, United States, during an interaction with Nigerians and Lagos indigenes in the Diaspora.
The former Abia State governor also endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, for the governorship of the state, describing him as an experienced administrator capable of leading Lagos.
Vanguard reports that Kalu, who is seeking re-election to the Senate on the APC platform, said Hamzat’s long involvement in the Lagos State Government had equipped him with knowledge of governance and the diverse population of the country.
“Governor, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, is a good choice. Yes, in kind, in person, in mind, and in everything.
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“He has been in the government of Lagos State from 2006 till today. He understands government, he understands our people, he understands Nigeria, he understands the Yorubas, he understands the Hausas and the Igbos,” he said.
Kalu said he believed Hamzat could contribute to the development of what he described as a “new Lagos” and “new Nigeria” where citizens would feel a greater sense of belonging.
The senator also defended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, arguing that major economic changes required time before their full benefits could be felt by citizens.
He said the reforms were intended to stabilise the economy and create conditions for investment and productive activity, comparing the process with reforms implemented in countries such as Singapore.
“I will deviate a little bit to speak and talk about our President. It’s very difficult to do reforms. Today, you see people celebrating today that he did a reform that is one of the best in Singapore. Yes, it’s true. But it took years!” Kalu said.
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Drawing on his political experience, including his unsuccessful presidential bid in 2007, the senator said he understood the difficulties involved in implementing major reforms.
He said the government’s initial task was to stabilise key areas of the economy, including foreign exchange and fuel pricing, before moving more aggressively towards economic growth.
Kalu, however, acknowledged that Nigerians were still facing serious challenges at the grassroots, particularly as insecurity had disrupted farming and other economic activities in several parts of the country.
He consequently opposed suggestions that the Federal Government should restore petroleum subsidy.
“I was seeing some of our leaders saying they should bring back subsidy. I say it’s a laughing stock for anybody… I have two tank farms. I have tank farm in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and I have palm farm in Lagos.
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“And I believe that bringing back subsidy is not best for Nigerians. It’s not an option to the economic development of Nigeria. Government can do other things, not fuel subsidy,” he said.
Kalu alleged that the former subsidy regime was riddled with fraudulent practices, claiming that some of the companies that participated in the arrangement were not genuine.
“We were about 143 companies that were doing subsidy, and I can tell you that half of the 143 were fake,” he alleged.
He further argued that subsidy removal had reduced some forms of conspicuous spending associated with the previous system.
“And while it was running… I can tell you that, you can see the level of private jets have reduced in Nigeria because there’s no more subsidy,” he said.
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While praising Tinubu for undertaking what he described as difficult reforms, Kalu said the administration still needed to do more to tackle insecurity.
He argued that economic recovery would remain difficult if farmers and rural businesses could not operate freely because of security threats.
“But President Tinubu have a lot of work to be done in the next couple of months and years, is to reform, to bring back the security dynamics back to normal,” he said.
According to the senator, restoring security would allow farmers to return to their fields, revive rural economic activities and strengthen local government administration.
“What we need for the growth is to fight insecurity, farmers will go back to farm, people will go back to work in the rural areas, local government will have autonomy, local government councils will start disbursing money, and society will become normal,” Kalu said.