The 2023 presidential election in Nigeria is less than 2 years from now. Many Nigerians are already permutating as to which politician is the best candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Many want a young Nigerian who is in his 60s and is popular in all the six geo-political zones in the country. Also, Southern Nigeria wants to produce the next President of Nigeria because President Buhari who is a Northerner will complete his 8 years in 2023.
Becoming the presidential candidate of APC will be a tough task and I see the Northern politicians in APC being the major decider of who becomes the flag bearer of the APC.
Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu is one of the Southern politicians in APC believed to be interested in the 2023 presidential election.
In my opinion, the Northern Politicians in APC may end up ignoring Tinubu who is also a prominent politician in the South-West to support Kalu to emerge as the 2023 presidential candidate of the APC.
We will be discussing why I think so in this article.
Orji Uzor Kalu is a true Nigerian and bridge builder
Some Nigerians who perceive Kalu as a corrupt politician due to his prosecution by the EFCC do not know that he is a true Nigerian and a bridge builder.
Kalu lived in the North precisely in Maiduguri. He understands Northern Nigeria and its politics more than many Southern Politicians.
While studying at the University of Maiduguri he started his bread factory and furniture business which made him come across many Northerners.
Till today he has businesses in the North and has some Northerners working for him. Down in the South, he is well known in the South-West especially in Lagos due to some of his businesses.
He has supporters and friends in many of the political parties in Nigeria. Some Nigerians do not know that Kanu was one of the founding members of the PDP in 1998.
To tell you how popular he is in the North, the Emir of Daura conferred him a chieftaincy title when he visited Daura before the 2019 presidential election.
Recall that IBB asked Nigerians to elect politicians in their 60s as the next President of Nigeria and Kalu falls within that age bracket.
OUK is 61 and looks healthy and vibrant. His cordial relationship with political elites in the core North may help him emerge as the 2023 presidential candidate of the APC.
