Trump spoke truth about killings in Nigeria — Orji Kalu

…says American intelligence knows terrorists’ hideouts, urges Nigerian forces to ‘smoke them out’

Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia State Governor and senator representing Abia North, has defended United States’ President, Donald Trump’s recent comments on insecurity in Nigeria, saying Trump merely “told the truth” about the killings across the country.

The former chip whip made this known on Tuesday when he was addressing journalists at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

Kalu, who described himself as “pro-America”, insisted that the former U.S. President could not have spoken carelessly, noting that any statement from Trump was likely informed by intelligence reports from American security agencies.

“I will disclose myself fully as pro-America. Whatever I say, I know it will be pro-America,” Kalu said.

“On what Donald Trump said, if it’s a lie, the answer is that it’s not a lie, because he said the truth. Nigerians are being killed whether they are Christians or Muslims.

“If they go to a church in Plateau, are they not Christians that are killed? If they go to Benue and kill, the majority of those killed are still Christians. If they go to Zamfara to kill, those who are killed are still Muslims.”

The lawmaker maintained that “there are jihadists who just want to destroy Nigeria”, urging the Nigerian military and allied nations to act decisively.

“We should blacklist them without any pity so that they will be smoked out. The American President cannot talk carelessly.

“Before President Trump says a word, the American intelligence community must have found out where those terrorists are located,” he said.

Kalu commended the Nigerian Air Force for its recent strikes on terrorist hideouts, suggesting that U.S. intelligence may have contributed to those operations.

“You can see that the Nigerian Air Force, possibly the information was given to them by the U.S., has been told where these terrorists are located, and you can see the Air Force bombing their hideouts. That is how it should be,” he added.

“We should not pity anybody who is a terrorist. When I was Governor, I formed a local security outfit called Bakassi, and their duty was not to settle social issues; they were to fight criminals.”

While supporting Trump’s comments, Kalu also blamed past U.S. military interventions for worsening global insecurity, saying the overthrow of former Libyan and Iraqi leaders, Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, created a ripple effect that spilled arms across Africa.

“On the other hand, it’s also the Americans that caused the problem, because when they killed Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, it became a problem,” Kalu said.

“Those people were maintaining their borders; nobody was crossing. It was after their killings that light and heavy arms spilled wildly all over the world, and we are suffering from it today.”

According to him, “America is the leader of the free world, and the President means whatever he says.”

Kalu assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was engaging diplomatically to resolve the insecurity crisis, adding that the intelligence Trump relied upon was compiled before Tinubu assumed office.

“We are working diplomatically to make sure that we put our house in order. It will be solved diplomatically because President Tinubu is committed,” Kalu said.

“In fact, the report that President Trump is acting on was not put together under Tinubu’s administration; it was under the last administration, and that is the truth.”

He cautioned Nigerians and political opponents against misinterpreting Trump’s remarks as an attack on the Tinubu government.

“Nigerians are clapping, and political opponents are thinking that the U.S. is after the Government of Tinubu. No! They are going after the jihadists,” Kalu clarified.

“Everyone serving in this government, from President Tinubu to Vice President Shettima is committed to eliminating them. You journalists should also help the military and the people to reveal the true identities of the members of these sects behind these attacks.”

Kalu disclosed that he has been in touch with senior U.S. political figures, including two former Presidents and six sitting Senators, who have pledged to support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

“In my own little way, I have spoken to two former U.S. Presidents; one Republican and one Democrat, and they both agreed that they will help. I have also spoken to about six sitting U.S. Senators in Congress, and they all said, ‘We will help you people,’” he revealed.

He maintained that Nigeria’s partnership with the United States remains critical to ending terrorism and restoring peace.

On the 2027 presidential election, Kalu declared that President Tinubu has no credible opposition, describing the contest as “Tinubu versus Tinubu.”

“Has he got anyone contesting against him? The election is Tinubu vs Tinubu, just like it was Soludo vs Soludo. The President has no opposition,” Kalu said.

“Our party is fully on ground and with the people. We will continue to do what we can to help the Nigerian masses progress.”

‘Macroeconomy is doing well, microeconomy still struggling’

Speaking on the state of the economy, Kalu acknowledged the hardship faced by Nigerians but said key economic indicators were improving under Tinubu.

“As a businessman, I am also feeling the pain. You will find out that the economy is growing, the macro economy is doing well, but the micro economy is not doing well,” he explained.

“Foreign investors are coming in. What is left is for this progress to trickle down to the masses. It is only when we return to agriculture and people can move freely to sell their goods that things will improve.”

He added that both President Tinubu and the National Assembly are “putting their lives into revamping the economy.”