Senator Orji Uzor Kalu began his statement with a candid warning to Governor Dauda Lawal, asserting that Zamfara stands to lose federal development support if the state remains politically distant from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While inaugurating major public infrastructure in Gusau on Monday, Kalu emphasized the necessity of prioritizing economic diplomacy over partisan loyalty.
He stated, “I know you are PDP. I am APC. The President is APC. Do PDP as a party but do economic development as a Zamfara man so Zamfara can develop.” The senator urged Lawal to emulate the tactical alliances that once defined his own political career, noting how he maintained a working relationship with non-party allies like Tinubu during the Obasanjo presidency.
Uzor Kalu Leverages Personal Ties with Tinubu to Push for Unity
Orji Uzor Kalu highlighted his deeply personal connection with President Tinubu, recounting how their families shared close bonds long before their gubernatorial tenures. “My children used to live in his house. Mrs. Tinubu brought those girls up,” Kalu remarked, underscoring the enduring friendship that transcended party politics.
This personal anecdote was not just nostalgia—it was a strategic call for reconciliation. By showing how past political differences with Tinubu had been healed, Kalu urged Lawal to embrace political pragmatism. “Heal your political differences with the President,” he advised, stating clearly that federal collaboration should override partisan division.
“Federal Money Won’t Flow Without Strategic Alignment,” Kalu Insists
Senator Uzor Kalu did not mince words as he stressed the financial stakes tied to political alignment. He warned that “Once you leave economic diplomacy and play politics, you will lose. Zamfara people will lose.” His message was clear: engaging in opposition politics without maintaining federal rapport is a self-defeating strategy for a developing state.
He urged Governor Lawal to adopt a model of political economics, advocating for collaboration over confrontation. According to Kalu, this approach would secure more federal allocations and fast-track vital development projects in education, women affairs, and infrastructure across Zamfara.
“Work With Yari, Heal the Divide,” Kalu Urges Unified Front in Zamfara
Senator Uzor Kalu also directed his message toward intra-state unity, encouraging Governor Lawal to mend political fences with former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari. He stressed that the state’s progress depends on key players—regardless of party affiliations—setting aside personal vendettas for the public good.
“Yari is from here, and you are from here. Come together and give Zamfara the development it needs,” Kalu appealed. He warned that fragmented leadership in Zamfara would only prolong poverty, insecurity, and federal neglect—a burden ordinary citizens should not bear for elite rivalries.
Uzor Kalu Cites Tinubu’s Past Opposition Role as a Political Blueprint
Referencing President Tinubu’s past, Kalu drew a compelling analogy: “Tinubu was not in our party when President Obasanjo was in office… but we shared the same ideas.” This, he said, is the political maturity Governor Lawal must adopt if Zamfara is to progress amid current realities.
Uzor Kalu reminded the audience that political opposition does not require total alienation. Instead, it calls for intelligent engagement and mutual respect. He presented Tinubu’s survival as a non-PDP figure during Obasanjo’s reign as proof that bridge-building, not barricading, drives results.
Zamfara’s Development Hangs in the Balance, Kalu Warns
In a powerful closing, Senator Uzor Kalu underscored that the success or failure of Zamfara’s socio-economic transformation hinges on Governor Lawal’s political decisions today. “This place needs the attention of the Federal Government,” he stressed. Kalu’s tone was both urgent and tactical—offering a diplomatic lifeline rather than an ultimatum.
He reiterated that alignment doesn’t mean defection but maintaining cordial ties that unlock federal benefits. As Nigeria’s economy remains unstable, Kalu’s speech serves as a cautionary roadmap for governors straddling the thin line between opposition politics and developmental needs.
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