Trump threat: US not targeting Tinubu’s government, says Orji Kalu

The senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has said that the United States is not targeting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that American concerns are focused on Islamic jihadist groups responsible for killing innocent citizens.

He made the remarks in a chat with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja regarding concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump and some U.S. lawmakers over attacks on Christians in Nigeria, as well as the warning of possible military action.

“Nigerians are clapping hands, and political opponents are thinking the U.S. is after Tinubu’s government. No! They are going after the jihadists,” he said.

The former governor of Abia State noted that attacks across the country have claimed both Christian and Muslim lives, stressing that these threats must be confronted decisively.

If it’s a lie, then the answer is that it’s not a lie because he said the truth. Nigerians are being killed, whether they are Christians or Muslims.

“There are jihadists who just want to destroy Nigeria. We should blacklist them without pity so that they will be smoked out,” he said.

Describing himself as “pro-America,” Kalu said he had previously discussed Nigeria’s security challenges with two former U.S. Presidents and six serving U.S. Senators, all of whom expressed willingness to assist Nigeria in counter-terrorism efforts.

Before President Trump says a word, the American intelligence community must have found out where these terrorists are located.

“You can see that the Nigerian Air Force is already acting, possibly using information shared by the U.S. to bomb terrorist hideouts. That’s how it should be,” he said.

Kalu also blamed global instability on past US interventions in Libya and Iraq, which he said unleashed arms across Africa.

“When you killed Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, it became a problem because those people were maintaining their borders. After their deaths, light and heavy arms were spread all over the world, and we are suffering from it today.”

Speaking on the 2027 presidential race, Kalu declared that Tinubu faces no serious opposition, describing the contest as “Tinubu versus Tinubu.”

“Has he gotten anyone contesting against him? The election is Tinubu vs Tinubu, just like Soludo vs Soludo. The President has no options. Our party is fully on the ground and with the people,” he stated.

He highlighted the APC’s nationwide support and credited Tinubu’s policies with gradually improving the economy and security landscape.

Kalu also praised the Senate, under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, for backing Tinubu’s economic recovery drive with pro-people legislation.

He said, “Whatever the problem, the Senate is more interested in making laws that will help President Tinubu overcome the economic problems our people are going through. We are focusing on ensuring Nigerians can eat three times a day.”

Kalu acknowledged ongoing hardships but said macroeconomic indicators were improving.

“As a businessman, I am feeling the pain too. The macro economy is doing well, but the micro economy is not. Foreign investors are coming in. What is left is for this progress to trickle down so people can eat daily and return to farming.”

On speculation about party defections, he said, “Neither I nor other senators, nor the President, have ever forced anybody to join our party. Whether Governor Alex Otti joins or not is up to him. But I will work 100% for the APC, campaign in the state, and ensure victory for President Tinubu and all our candidates.”

Addressing reports of an attempted impeachment of Senate President Akpabio, Kalu dismissed it as a minor “family misunderstanding.”

“There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen. We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen,” he stated.