SEGUN BABATUNDE, Bauchi
Former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has been dragged to court for his inability to declare his interest in contesting the presidency of Nigeria in 2023.
The suit was filed by Comrade Aliyu Ladan and Lawan Abdullahi before Bauchi State High Court Three presided over by Justice Mohammed A Sambo.
Addressing a press conference in Bauchi over the weekend, the plaintiffs declared that “only Kalu can rescue Nigeria as the country is deep in suffering and only a strategic thinker like Kalu can rescue the country.”
According to them, “We know his capacity to change the scenario, his capacity to change things from negative to positive. He has done it in Abia State. Despite its challenges, Kalu turned the people of Abia into good persons in Nigeria, because of his laudable achievements and leadership capacity. We entered into an agreement with him last 2nd February 2021 that he will contest for president, but he is reluctant to declare his interest.”
The plaintiffs said, “Kalu is a person with all the capacity and capability to change the narratives of a nation. He is a man of purpose and foresight, a mentor to many citizens, a dynamic Nigerian, an advocate of justice, a revolutionary politician, a consummate administrator and master strategist. He is also a blessing not only to Igbo but the entire Nigerians.
“We are in court because we want the court to respect our agreement to contest as President of Nigeria. We want the Court to compel Kalu to declare his interest to run in the 2023 general elections, as a presidential candidate, under APC or any other party. We want the court to direct Kalu to commence preparations and put all the necessary machinery in place for the purpose of contesting as Presidential candidate”
The plantiffs said that many credible groups across the six senatorial zones were drumming support for Kalu to vie for president in 2023 because they found him worthy to deliver good governance to the nation.
They said that credibility, honesty, and the capacity to deliver endeared Kalu to all Nigerians.
“Kalu has had deep relationships with all Nigerians and he never disappointed in any of it. He has known many Nigerians, and has so many businesses across North and Southern parts of the country for decades and have never disappointed anybody in terms of buying and selling, because he is a man of his words, he’s trustworthy. We find him worthy because we know whatever he says he will do, and whatever he says he will not do, he will not do. He is sincere to Nigerians, and Nigerians are always sincere to him.”
The Plaintiffs described him as a presidential material with experience in the private sector, the Executive and Legislative arms of government.
They also urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to commence a process of adopting him as the sole candidate of the party.
They stressed that Kalu’s managerial skill, experience and national appeal put him in the best position to rule Nigeria in 2023.
The case was assigned to the Presiding Judge, Justice Sambo, who ordered the Plaintiffs to serve Kalu with the originating summons in Abuja, outside the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the suit to January 27, 2022 for hearing.
Copies of the court processes with suit number BA/331/2021 were distributed to reporters during the press conference.