Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Sunday alleged that the persistent insecurity issues were politically motivated by the international community.
However, Senator Kalu, who raised the allegation while speaking on the state of the nation on Politics Today on Channels TV, assured that President Bola Tinubu is doing his best to address the challenges.
He said: “What we are seeing is always the routine, something that goes with elections. And when there are elections, people try to put pressure on the government in power so that all kinds of things start happening. And you can remember. When President Jonathan was here, something similar happened. They put a lot of pressure on the president. And the terrorists and bandits are orchestrated by some members of the international community and local people who really want to, sorry, destabilize the government.
“These are not things that we are unusual about, but I am sure you can see that President Tinubu is up to the task for the first time. The president is seen canceling all his engagements. Today is Sunday, and he is facing everything related to security. Those girls will be recovered. Those people in the schools will be recovered. The government is doing everything possible to ensure that these people are recovered. I am sure it is not the best of times for us. It is not a very good time for the Nigerian people and citizens. Our service chiefs, our security agents have been fully on duty, to do that and see what they can do, who will track them, is a challenge The essence of government is to protect lives and property and we will be stuck if one of the tasks….”
When asked if the president is aware of his claims, he said: “Absolutely. The president is the president of Nigeria, and the president of Nigeria has a lot of information around him.”
When asked to substantiate the allegation, Senator Kalu said: “No, these people are…machines, not by politicians. These people are people bought by individuals. These people are people… They are sent to destabilize a president who is ready to fight for our economy, who is ready to revamp the economy, who is doing everything he can to see what he can do.”
“We are working on the weekend. I just left the senior president. The Senate president is still in his office. We are working. We are discussing how to solve these problems; no one is sleeping. You can see that I am dressed like a cowboy. I am wearing normal clothes; this is not my normal outfit. We are fighters ready to fight. So we are just leaving our offices.
“We are discussing security issues. What solutions can we come up with? This is not what I am going to tell you here. We will discuss our problems and hand them over to the security chiefs to see what they can do, because we imagine they will be lost.”
“I can’t say. I have information. I don’t know these people. No. There are people who are doing this. The intelligence community knows these people. And you know it too. Well, I, as a citizen of Nigeria, who runs an international organization back and forth, I am aware that people are supposed to do this to destabilize the government.
To what end? They want Tinubu to fail. Of course, that’s the problem. They want Tinubu not to come. You know, this is about 2027. It’s nothing but 2027.
When asked about the reason behind the daily diligence on state surveillance by the National Assembly, he said: “You must know that democracy is very, very slow. Democracy is not out of place. It is not something that just comes and says this. We make this law, we send it to the House of Assembly, the House of Assembly will vote by two-thirds, we need two-thirds majority of every House of Assembly in Nigeria to amend the laws. And that is what we have been working on. You speak of the Ninth Senate, they did this whole law very well, they did everything and the majority returned without the approval of two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly.
“So you cannot blame the National Assembly while I am talking to you, the president of the Senate is still in his office, as I am talking to you now. I left him a few minutes ago. So we are working, we are more worried than you, because our constituents are putting pressure on us.”
In addition to the 10,000 troops that the Nigerian army will recruit, Senator Kalu explained that the Senate just last week approved the president, or the executive, the recruitment of 100,000 soldiers, and “calls on the executive to recruit more police. We need manpower. This is a population of almost 300 million people. We are not 250 million.”
Senator Kalu maintained that the President is spending sleepless nights along with other stakeholders to address the plethora of security challenges facing the country.
While noting that security is the top priority of any government, the former governor of Abia State alleged that the government cannot compel Nigerians to join security agencies.
When asked about his position on President Trump’s military international, he said it wouldn’t be a bad idea if President Trump could do it in consultation with the federal government.
“Listen, I will tell you that I am pro-America. And I feel very concerned about what is happening. And most of them are purely sabotaged. Both by the international community.
Because let me, I will refer you to a video played by Madame Asule in 1967. Where someone said that Nigeria will never have peace. The plan is that if they allow Nigeria to have the 20 years of peace, this country will have all the other countries in the world.
“In this program, I have told you that if Nigeria is allowed, Nigeria will be the number one economy in the world.
We have everything to make it happen. Both internationally and locally, people who are jealous of Nigeria are fighting against Nigeria.
“Well, it will be a very good thing when it comes to the federal government. We have also made efforts to communicate that the military attack against the terrorists and bandits will be a combined effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States of America.
“I don’t see anything wrong in fighting against bandits and terrorists. I don’t see anything wrong.
“Let me tell you that when President Obasanjo was president, I was one of those who supported that Africa should be in Nigeria. With 10,000 American soldiers. As part of the problems I had. I am one of those who openly, they called me all kinds of names, CIA agent, agent of heaven and earth, agent of this because I supported. I openly supported in the Council of States that the United States establish a base in Nigeria.
“What is happening today will not happen. So I want the Nigerian people and the Nigerian leaders not to be short-sighted. What Trump is saying is a reality. I support what he is saying. But it has to be harmonized between the federal government of Nigeria and the United States of America. And even when he has called Nigeria a non-dishonored country. It has no meaning what he calls us. We are one country. We are proud of our country. I am proud of the Nigerian government. Whatever he calls us is what he wants say… We are in our country. So, for me, we need to work together with the United States of America. What do we need to have a partnership?
Although he expressed optimism that they will not come with their soldiers, he stated that “they come with a lot of technology and intelligence, which is what is required to fight.”
When asked about President Tinubu’s directive to withdraw protection for VIPs, including police officers who carry bags and help important ladies load, open and close their doors, Senator Kalu said: “We cannot force anyone to join the Nigerian Police. We have advertised. Did you apply? I have a job here. Yes, and those people you are talking about are afraid to have a job somewhere else.
“So we are doing everything we can. President Tinubu has sleepless nights every day regarding Nigeria. And I can assure you that things will get better.
READ ALSO TOP STORIES OF Newslodge