By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
Former Governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Monday afternoon breezed into Minna, the Niger State capital, and met with former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), and former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubarkar.
After the visit, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu blamed the unending insecurity bedeviling the country on alleged sabotage by some individuals, whom he said were feeding fat from the problem.
Kalu, who however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for not relenting in efforts at checking the menace, described prevalent insecurity as the greatest challenge Nigeria ever had.
On the visit to former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Kalu said that it was to welcome the two former Nigerian leaders from medical trips.
On the Senate position against calls for the sack of Service Chiefs, Kalu said, “The issues raised will be addressed by the Senate themselves. I am here on a visit as a private citizen, not as a Senate Chief Whip”.
Kalu who however told journalists that Buhari was not happy with the worsening security situation in Nigeria said, “Once I know the position of the Senate I will definitely make it known.
“I seem to see lots of sabotage in the issue of security in this country, and we will address the issue of sabotage”.
Kalu however said that all hopes were not lost in guaranteeing security of lives and properties of Nigerians.
“I can assure Nigerians that Mr. President is on top of the situation and I am sure Mr. President is very angry. But the issue will be addressed accordingly”.
On his rumoured 2023 ambition, Kalu said, “For now, I am a Senator of the Federal Republic, and if given another opportunity I will love to come back to serve. If given the opportunity to serve Nigeria at the highest level, I will not hesitate to do just that”.
On the issue of rotational Presidency, Uzor Kalu said that it was political party reasoning and not a constitutional issue, adding however that parties have the right to say where their candidates for elections should come from.
The former governor was however quick to add, “But in the All Progressives Congress, we have no issue of zoning. Anybody can contest for elections. As long as it is not in the constitution of APC, the President is an open basket where anybody can view for”.
Kalu, who arrived Minna at about 1:21pm in company of few of his friends and associates, was driven straight to the Hilltop mansion of IBB where they met behind closed doors for over two hours.
Kalu later stopped over at the residence of former Military Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubarkar where he also met behind closed doors with him after which he and his entourage proceeded to the palace of the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Farouq Bahago.
At the Emir’s palace, former Kalu told the traditional ruler that he was on a private visit to Minna, Niger State.
“I decided to stop over here sir, to pay my homage”.