Former Abia State Governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has dismissed suggestions that the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is the political leader of the South-East. Kalu insisted that he remains the most significant political figure in the region.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Kalu emphasized that he has no interest in discussing Peter Obi, maintaining his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Let me be honest with you, I’m a member of the APC and I don’t want to discuss Peter Obi. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it again. I will not talk about him for any reason,” Kalu said. “Ask me about my party leader and I will respond, whether the question is right or wrong.”
The senator, however, expressed his readiness for a public debate if Obi were to be present.
“Any day you want me to discuss Peter Obi, arrange a two-hour session, put him there and me here then we can sort it out,” he added.
Reacting to comments that Obi commands political influence in the South-East, Kalu rejected the notion, describing himself as the region’s most prominent politician.
“He (Obi) is not my leader; I am the most important politician from that zone,” he declared confidently.
Kalu backed up his assertion by highlighting his political achievements, recalling his performance as the presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in 2007, where he claimed to have garnered 4.9 million votes.
“I have won two states before under PPA. I ran for president, and my 4.9 million votes in 2007 are still valid. We achieved a lot with PPA, we had ministers, ambassadors and other appointments under President Yar’Adua,” he said.
The former governor concluded that his political experience and record of accomplishments place him above Obi in the hierarchy of South-East politics.
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