Kalu vows to quit APC if Tinubu disrespects Catholic Church
by The Eagle Online · The Eagle OnlineSenator Orji Uzor Kalu has backed the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over their concerns about hardship in Nigeria, declaring that he would resign from the All Progressives Congress if President Bola Tinubu disrespects the church or opposition.
The representative of Abia North Senatorial District said this on a Channels Television programme: “Talking Politics,” on Wednesday.
Kalu defended the rights of the Catholic bishops to speak about the state of the nation.
He said the bishops were right to draw the President’s attention to the difficulties Nigerians were experiencing.
The former two-term Abia State governor said: “The bishops were right.”
He argued that speaking frankly to those in power was an important responsibility of the church, saying Catholic bishops could tell the President things politicians might be reluctant to say.
He said: “Any president dodging the Catholic bishops is dodging himself.
“Because what politicians cannot tell the president, the Catholic bishops will say it.”
According to Kalu, the intervention of the bishops should not be interpreted as hostility towards the Tinubu administration.
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He added: “If the bishops have said anything less than what they have said, it means they are no longer the conscience of the country.
“The bishops were right.”
The senator also acknowledged the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, although he maintained that the macroeconomic aspect of the economy had stabilised.
Kalu said: “Let me tell you that there is hardship.”
He explained that while the macroeconomic indicators were improving, difficulties remained at the level directly affecting ordinary Nigerians.
He said: “The macro side of the economy has been stabilised.
“What we are suffering today is the micro side of the economy.”
Kalu, however, rejected suggestions that Tinubu had disrespected the Catholic bishops, insisting that the President maintained a good relationship with the church.
He said: “President Tinubu has a very good relationship with the Catholic Church, I can tell you that.”
The senator went further to state that disrespect for either the church or political opposition by the President would be enough for him to leave the ruling party.
He declared: “Any day President Tinubu has disrespect to the opposition or has disrespect to the Catholic Church, I will resign from the APC.”
When confronted with the claim that the Presidency had disrespected the Catholic Church, Kalu disagreed, describing that as an opinion rather than his own assessment.
He maintained that Tinubu would never insult the bishops.
He said: “The President can never insult the Catholic Bishops.
“Never.”
Asked whether the Presidency should apologise to the Catholic Church, Kalu said there was presently nothing requiring an apology from the President.
He, however, added: “If there is anything the President has done to the church, he should apologise.”
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