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The Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has disclosed that he financed several activities surrounding the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including party meetings, aircraft arrangements, honorariums and other logistical expenses.
Kalu made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday night, where he recounted his financial contributions to the party at its formative stage and expressed disappointment over how he was treated despite his sacrifices.
The former Abia State governor acknowledged that he was not the only individual who contributed financially to the party, naming former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Yomi Edu and General Theophilus Danjuma among those who also provided financial support.
He, however, maintained that he played a leading role in financing the party’s early operations, including organising meetings, hiring aircraft, paying honorariums to participants and providing food and other necessities.
According to him, his financial commitment was driven by his determination to establish a formidable political platform capable of ending military rule and restoring democratic governance in Nigeria.
Kalu said he initially took pride in his contributions but later felt betrayed when members of the party allegedly turned against him after he had invested substantial financial resources in its establishment.
“I became a fool before the PDP because after bringing all the money, they turned against me,” he said.
When asked whether his emergence as Abia State governor on the PDP platform between 1999 and 2007 was sufficient compensation for his contributions, Kalu dismissed the suggestion.
He argued that his financial sacrifices far exceeded whatever political benefits he received from the party, insisting that he could have become governor on another political platform.
“Governor means nothing for what I gave to them. I gave them live wire. When people had no money, I brought in the money to form the party,” he stated.
The senator also recounted his financial support for former President Olusegun Obasanjo following his release from prison. He disclosed that Obasanjo stayed at his residence in Victoria Island, Lagos, after regaining his freedom, while he provided financial assistance and facilitated his movements.
According to Kalu, he financed Obasanjo’s activities, hired aircraft for his travels and sometimes provided his personal aircraft to transport the former president.
“When President Obasanjo came out of prison, he was in my house. He used to be in Victoria Island. I started funding him, started funding his aircraft, started hiring aircraft and bringing my own aircraft to take him,” he said.
He lamented that his involvement in politics came at a considerable cost to his business interests, alleging that some of his enterprises suffered as a consequence of his political activities.
“What I got in return is killing off my businesses,” Kalu said.
The former governor maintained that he was already financially successful before venturing into politics and that his political involvement significantly affected his business fortunes.
Kalu had previously claimed that he contributed the PDP’s first N500 million during its formation in 1998 and donated more than N100 million towards Obasanjo’s presidential campaign that year.
In a March 2017 report, he also alleged that the PDP-led government took over his bank, airline and oil licence following disagreements over his political ambitions, including his opposition to the proposed third-term agenda of former President Obasanjo.
Meanwhile, Kalu also spoke about his relationship with former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, describing him as a mentor and a person he continues to respect.
When asked whether he received financial benefits from his relationship with Babangida, the senator denied receiving direct financial assistance, saying he enjoyed goodwill and other benefits arising from their friendship.
Kalu served as Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007 and currently represents Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
