Senator Orji Uzor Kalu claims he has never gained any personal benefits from his political career, instead, he has invested his own funds to advance his political endeavors.
During an interview on Channels TV on June 2, Kalu, who was the governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007 and currently serves as the senator for Abia North, emphasized that he is primarily a businessman who has consistently established enterprises to create jobs for Nigerians.
He stated that when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was established in 1998, he contributed millions of dollars to support its formation, noting that he used his personal funds to finance Abia State during his tenure as governor.
“I spent my own money being governor like I spent my own money being a Senator. I used to finance the state. That is the truth. I never benefitted anything being governor, rather I lost a lot of money. The Federal government took a lot of my businesses. For me, Politics has been more dangerous to me.”
Continuing, he added, “I made so much money under 24. I did not benefit anything from being a governor. I brought the money they used in forming the PDP. Ask any PDP member, I brought most of the money they used in 1998 and 1999.”
When questioned about the source of the funds he used to support the party, he explained that they came from his business ventures.
“I am the biggest importer of rice, sugar, confectionaries, and the rest of them and I was also selling petrol,” he said.
At that time, the dollar was significant, I gave President Obasanjo over $1 million to campaign. I gave the party $500 million. The only few people who could have brought money then were TY Danjuma and Atiku Abubakar, others had no money to bring and that’s the truth.”
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli