By Mercy Gadia Adi
Former Governor of Abia State and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on insecurity in Nigeria are based on truth, stressing that the killings across the country are a reality that must be confronted.
Speaking with journalists at the National Assembly, Kalu said Trump’s comments reflected the true state of insecurity in Nigeria and should not be dismissed as mere political rhetoric.
“What Donald Trump said — is it a lie? The answer is no. Nigerians are being killed, whether they are Christians or Muslims. These people are jihadists who just want to destroy Nigeria, and we must smoke them out,” he said.
Kalu revealed that he had held discussions with two former American presidents, one Republican and one Democrat, and about 60 U.S. Congress members, all of whom, he said, expressed readiness to assist Nigeria in combating terrorism.
“Before President Trump says a word, the American intelligence community must have verified information about where these terrorists are. You can see the Nigerian Air Force, possibly acting on U.S. intelligence, has been bombing their hideouts recently,” Kalu explained.
He reaffirmed his strong pro-American stance and expressed confidence that the United States would continue to support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism through intelligence and diplomatic collaboration.
“America is the leader of the free world, and whatever the U.S. President says should be taken seriously. We are working diplomatically to put our house in order. The issue will be resolved,” Kalu assured.
The senator, however, noted that the rise of terrorism in Africa was partly linked to the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasions of Libya and Iraq, which destabilized regional security and unleashed the proliferation of arms.
“When Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein were killed, borders collapsed and light weapons spread across Africa. We are suffering from it today,” he added.
Kalu reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains determined to end terrorism and restore economic stability, emphasizing that the Senate would continue to enact pro-business laws to support national recovery.
On the Economy: “Macro Economy Doing Well, But Micro Still Struggling”
Assessing the current state of the Nigerian economy, the senator acknowledged the hardship many citizens face but maintained that macroeconomic indicators are 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, and what is left is for this progress to trickle down to the masses so that people can eat daily and return to farming,” he explained.
Kalu said both the President and the Senate are working relentlessly to revive the economy and restore food security.
“President Tinubu has put his life into revamping the economy, and the Senate is also doing its best to ensure that Nigerians feel the progress.”
Addressing reports of initial moves to impeach the Senate President, Senator Kalu dismissed the tension as a “family misunderstanding,” insisting that lawmakers remain united in supporting the leadership and the national agenda.
“There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen. We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen,” he assured.