The former governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, addressing journalists at the National Assembly on Tuesday, said he had withdrawn from the presidential race “since presidency is not a regional issue”.
Kalu who is also of the same Igbo extraction as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, suggested that citizens should not waste their votes on Obi, stressing that the election is not regional but national.
According to him, Labour Party does not have a structure.
The politician however maintained that he has no grudges against anybody who is running.
Kalu said since he belongs to the APC, he is bound to vote for the presidential candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu.
Reiterating support for his party, he pleaded with Igbo people to await their turn, saying “for now, our presidential candidate is Bola Ahmed Tinubu”
Tinubu is a strategic leader, he will make his presidency beneficial to the Igbo,” he said, adding that “Igbo will be the biggest beneficiaries of Tinubu’s presidency”.
“I have no problem with Igbo man being president. But we have to do it with other Nigerians. If we don’t do it with other Nigerians, it is not going to work, no matter how popular you are. It’s president of Nigeria, not president of Igboland,” he said.
Read also: INEC publishes names of 18 parties and their candidates for 2023 presidential race
“So, it is not personal. It is political and party. This thing is about party winning elections. I have chosen to be in APC. Why will I vote against Tinubu? It’s madness, and I’m not going to do it. Elections go along party line, not along tribal line,” he said.
