Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has said he would quit the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ever disrespects Catholic bishops.
The former Abia State governor made the statement on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he rejected claims that Tinubu had insulted the Catholic Church following recent reactions to comments made by Catholic leaders on the state of the nation.
Kalu said the President enjoys a healthy relationship with the Catholic Church, stressing that the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) serves as the conscience of the nation and should not be viewed as being hostile to the government.
He said, “Tinubu did not insult the Catholic Church. This is not the first time the Catholic Church has gone to President Tinubu. In every country, from DRC, Angola to South Africa, and anywhere, the Catholic and other churches are always the conscience of the country.
“I do not see anything wrong in what the Catholic bishops said. Since the military rule, the Catholic Bishops Conference hold its conference every year, where they talk and issue a statement about the state of the nation.
“For me, Tinubu is not an enemy to the Catholic bishops. The President has a very good relationship with the Catholic Church. Anytime they asked for an audience, he has given it to them because any president dodging Catholic bishops is dodging himself. What politicians cannot tell the president, the Catholic bishops will say it.
“It is not true. If you hear him well, he said we will have a fair contest, and he will not touch anybody. Any day President Tinubu disrespects the opposition or Catholic bishops, I will resign from the APC.”
The remarks come amid controversy over exchanges between the Presidency and Cardinal John Onaiyekan after the cleric spoke about a meeting with Tinubu, during which he said he raised concerns about Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship and insecurity.
After the Cardinal’s account became public, presidential aides disputed parts of his comments, prompting criticism from some members of the Christian community, who considered the responses disrespectful to both the Cardinal and the Catholic Church.
Kalu also expressed confidence that Tinubu would win a second term in the 2027 general election, saying the administration’s achievements had not been effectively communicated to Nigerians despite the country’s economic challenges.
He argued that the ruling APC had not done enough to publicise the government’s record in infrastructure, security and economic reforms.
He added, “A lot has been done by this government. We simply have not marketed those achievements well.”
The senator rated the administration’s performance at about 65 per cent, expressing optimism that the score would rise in the coming months.
“On a scale of 100, President Tinubu has done about 65 per cent. By September or October, that performance will be close to 70 per cent.”