From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos
Former Governor of Abia State and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Orji Kalu has expressed confidence in the ability of the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, to reconcile all warring groups and individuals within the party.
Kalu, who hailed the choice of Tinubu recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile various interests and stakeholders, however, tasked the national leader to expedite action in the reconciliatory efforts.
He decried a situation where a Minister and state governor work at cross purposes in some state chapters, saying the development does not augur well for party cohesion.
Speaking with newsmen on his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2), Kalu said President Buhari would soon make his intention known on whether or not he would contest in 2019.
According to him, Buhari would win a re- election because he enjoys the support of the masses.
Emphasizing the need for reconciliation, he made reference to the development in Oyo state which he said he reported to the party authorities in Abuja.
He said: "I reported it to the highest levels of our party and our government. This was three weeks ago, immediately I left Ibadan, I felt it wasn’t the right atmosphere to continue the party where a governor and a minister will be going on two parallel ways. It is not for the benefit of the President, it is neither for the benefit of the party nor for the benefit of the Nigerian people. The synergy will not be there.
"He is entitled for a second term. Even people that fail class also repeat class in elementary school and secondary. Buhari has done very well, have you gone to see the Niger bridge? It is reconstructed; so you can see and I know things are very difficult.
"As Ibo, I know also we have been cheated in many ways but this is a new beginning. They have been cheating us since 1960 up till today, so the issue is that we must build a national cohesion. What is lacking in Nigeria is inability to build national cohesion by all stakeholders. We are still building a tribal cohesion where people remember where they come from."
He is of the view that the Igbo support for Buhari’s re-election would pave way for Igbo presidency in 2023, adding that their presidency would bring greater prosperity to Nigeria.
