Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to effectively communicate the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to Nigerians, insisting that despite the prevailing economic hardship, the government has recorded significant successes that have not been adequately publicised.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kalu said the ruling party had done a poor job of marketing the administration’s accomplishments, even as he maintained that President Tinubu remained the strongest candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“It is just that we were very unlucky that we did not market what this government has done very well,” Kalu said.

“President Tinubu himself was not interested in marketing any goods he sold or delivered. People just took everything this government has been doing for Nigeria for granted.”

The former Abia State governor argued that Tinubu’s administration had made notable progress in infrastructure development and economic reforms despite criticism from sections of the public.

“You check what we did during the primaries, the membership strength of the party and the things Tinubu has done all over Nigeria. Although you will still say it is not enough, the new roads he has constructed and many other things have been done by this government,” he said.

Kalu also attributed some of the criticism against the administration to political opponents determined to undermine the President.

“President Tinubu has a lot of arch-enemies, both within and outside the government, who want to pull him down,” he said.

The senator reiterated that while the country’s macroeconomic indicators had improved, the benefits were yet to fully reach ordinary Nigerians.

“I have always said that we have been able to stabilise the economy. We have stabilised the macro economy, and we are working on the micro economy,” he said.

“The real cause of not stabilising the micro economy is banditry. President Tinubu has taken it upon himself to fight these bandits so that people can return to farming and the micro part of the economy will also be stabilised.”

He maintained that the government deserved credit for recent security successes, including operations against criminal groups.

“You have seen what happened in Niger and Kebbi. The President, the National Security Adviser, the armed forces, the police and the DSS are working together to get these hoodlums out so that people can return to their farms.”

Responding to concerns over widespread hardship, Kalu acknowledged that Nigerians had every right to express their frustrations through peaceful protests.

“Protest is part of democracy. I cannot deny people their right to protest. It is their entitlement,” he said.

“But are we doing well? The answer is yes. We have not gotten to where we are supposed to be.”

Despite the economic challenges, Kalu insisted that President Tinubu remained well-positioned to secure a second term in office because of what he described as the weakness of the opposition.

“I told you before that President Tinubu has no competition, and I am still repeating it: he has no competition,” he said.

“The opposition is very weak. If they were together, we would start having some sleepless nights. But they are not together.”

Assessing Tinubu’s performance nearly four years into his administration, Kalu awarded the President a score of 65 per cent.

“On a scale of 100, President Tinubu has done 65 per cent well. It is only the micro economy that is still struggling,” he said.

“That is a heavy pass. By September or October, it will be 70 per cent, which is an A.”

Kalu urged Nigerians to give the administration more time to address the challenges affecting the grassroots economy.

“When you have done well in many areas and there are some areas you have not done well, people should give you the opportunity to rewrite the examination,” he said.

On the 2027 presidential election, the former governor dismissed suggestions that opposition figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi posed a serious threat to Tinubu.

“All these people are not threats. If they had been together, there would be a problem,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that Tinubu would improve his electoral performance in the South-East and win Abia State, while predicting that Governor Alex Otti would also retain his seat.

“Tinubu will win in Abia,” Kalu said.

“Alex Otti will also win the governorship. He is my brother and my banker. Whatever I want to tell him, I tell him privately.”

The senator maintained that while he would congratulate any eventual winner if Tinubu lost, he did not believe that scenario would materialise.

“If President Tinubu loses, I will congratulate whoever wins. But President Tinubu can never lose the election because he has done so well, and our party members across the country will campaign until we win,” he said.