Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has said he would resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ever found to have disrespected the opposition or the Catholic Church.
The former Abia State governor made the statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, while reacting to the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s recent meeting with Catholic leaders.
Kalu defended the President, saying Tinubu did not insult Catholic bishops and there was no need for him to apologise over the matter.
“Any day President Tinubu has disrespect for the opposition, or has disrespect for the Catholic Church, I’d resign from the APC. The President can never insult the Catholic bishop, knowing him,” Kalu said.
He added that while the President should apologise whenever he makes a mistake, he did not believe anything said during the meeting with Catholic leaders warranted an apology.
Kalu also described Tinubu as a friend of the Catholic Church, noting that the relationship between the President and the bishops allows them to openly discuss national issues with him.
“Tinubu has a good relationship with the Catholic Church. Nothing wrong in what the Catholic bishops said. Tinubu is not an enemy to Catholic bishops, one of their best friends,” he said.
The senator further stated that comments made by Cardinal John Onaiyekan after the meeting should not automatically be regarded as the official position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
According to him, Onaiyekan attended the meeting in his personal capacity and may have expressed his own views, while the conference’s official position was contained in its communiqué.
The controversy started after Onaiyekan said the bishops had informed President Tinubu that Nigeria was “bleeding” due to economic hardship and other challenges facing citizens.
The cardinal also raised concerns about the 2027 general elections and the need for a credible electoral process.
His remarks sparked reactions from some political figures, including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who accused the cleric of being politically motivated.
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi rejected the accusation, arguing that Onaiyekan’s comments were focused on issues such as poverty, corruption and insecurity.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has maintained that he remains open to political competition and is prepared to face opponents in the 2027 elections.
