Tobias Sylvester
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu claims he can raise Nigeria’s economy to compete with that of the United States, Japan, and other developed countries within four years if he is elected president in 2023.
Orji Uzor Kalu Speaks On His Presidential Ambition
The Senator, who stated this while responding to questions regarding his presidential ambition, said anyone aspiring to become Nigeria’s president should be an individual with the capacity to improve the economy, security and make all Nigerians happy.
Making an example of himself, the former governor revealed that he has 13,000 Nigerians under his employment across different sectors of the economy.
Kalu said, “I can change the economy in four years, I can bring back the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be competing with the U.S. and Japan and all the rest of them.
“I can bring back the capacity utilisation to be under 4 and 5 per cent like a hurricane. Everybody says he is a presidential aspirant, what is the experience, the public service experience, the capacity to build, I employ 13,000 workers in Nigeria and I have capacity to manage people.
He however said he will only compete for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if it is zoned to the South East.
Kalu said, “But the party is supreme, if it zones the presidential position to South-East, I am number one candidate, there are only two zones that have never been President- the South- East and North –East.
“So, if they bring it to my zone, I am capable, I have everything it takes to deliver the APC to victory.
“Not by talk, but by action, I will rework the economy that every Nigerian, no matter where you live or stay you will be happy in your pocket, in your house, with sustained electricity and water supply.
“I will bring back the proudness of Nigerians to carry Nigerian passport, I am capable of doing that.
“Anybody that wants to be president must be a president that will be able to work for Nigerian people, the two major things a president should look at are the economy and security.
“These are areas of focus to bring back our economy to be a running economy.”
He said the current state of the economy was a reflection of the economic downturn in the world, noting that economies all over the world are experiencing challenges.
Kalu said, “It is not the cause of President Buhari, there is world-wide economic downturn, I have businesses all over the world and this businesses are not doing well.
“I have business in all the West African countries, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and we are losing money, and it is a worldwide deflation of all the economies,” Kalu said.
“I have told Nigerians that if it is zoned to the South- East, I’m already a candidate, because I am not desperate. But I am anxious to change the way of living and the economy of Nigeria which is what I know how to do best.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Orji Uzor Kalu had also promised to rebrand Nigeria as he did with Enyimba FC when he was Abia State Governor between 1999 and 2007.
