Orji Kalu Denies Lawan, Says I’m Not His Campaign DG Amidst Criticisms

By Adesina Soyooye

The Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu who is facing a backlash, especially, from the South-east, over his alleged appointment as the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation of Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has denied any such appointment.

A statement had gone viral on Thursday, with the names of members of the Campaign Organisation, which included Femi Fani-Kayode.

Not a few Nigerians concluded that the alleged appointments, coming a few days to the Presidential Primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  gives the impression that Lawan has already been anointed as the candidate.

The release of the  list also came on the day Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, another aspirant, in what has been termed as signs of his frustration and desperation, literally lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari, while on delegates-hunting inOgun State, and told him that he, Tinubu, made him President. He also emphasized that he made Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President, and made Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State. For Tinubu, who also said “it’s the turn of Yoruba”, and Yoruba’s turn as his tenure, it is pay back time by Buhari.

It also came days after Buhari appealed to APC Governors to allow him pick his successor, just as they pick their own successors.

But Kalu, in a statement he personally signed Thursday night, denied any such appointment. He said he has not been appointed Lawan’s DG since Lawan was not yet the candidate. He said he only hosted a meeting I’m support of Lawan.  Kalu, therefore, asked that the list be totally ignored.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to a list of committee Chairmen of Ahmad Lawan Campaign Organization in which I was also mentioned as the Director General.

“The list should be disregarded as no authorization was given to the effect of its publication.

“As the Chairman of the meeting held at my instance, it is important to notify the general public that we are not yet in the Campaign proper. A committee will be inaugurated to that effect once our most preferred candidate, Senator Ahmad Lawan emerges as the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I am also running for election in my senatorial district and would rather recommend a sitting Governor who is not running for an election to chair the campaign team at the right time .

“Several private visitors who were not even part of the meeting were also reported to have been in attendance. Senator Betty Apiafi, just as Senator Uche Ekwunife who visited on a different bipartisan matter concerning the Senate was also mentioned.

“It is mischief to have included these names as part of Ahmad Lawan Campaign Organization”

Kalu has been a driving force for Lawan’s Presidential aspiration.