Despite serving in Nigerian public office for decades, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has declared that he does not consider himself a politician, claiming that he has never personally benefited from politics.
Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District and previously served as Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007, made this revelation during a press conference. According to him, his wealth predates his political career, and he has always seen himself first as a businessman.
“I Funded PDP with My Own Money”
Kalu recounted that he made his fortune in business before joining politics. He notably claimed that he donated $1 million to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its founding in 1998 and also personally funded the operations of Abia State during his time as governor.
“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,” Kalu said.
“Ask any PDP member, I brought most of the money they used in 1998 and 1999.”
Pressed on the source of his wealth, Kalu stated that it came from his business empire:
“I was the biggest importer of rice, sugar, confectionaries, and also sold petroleum products. That’s where the money came from.”
He also claimed to have personally donated over $1 million to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 1999 campaign and N500 million to the PDP, asserting that at the time, only a few people like TY Danjuma and Atiku Abubakar could match such contributions.
“Politics Has Hurt Me More Than Helped Me”
Far from enriching him, Kalu insists that his foray into politics came at a great personal cost. According to him, he lost a significant portion of his wealth and even had some of his businesses taken over by the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government took a lot of my businesses. So, for me, politics has been more dangerous than beneficial,” he lamented.
A Businessman First
Reiterating his identity as an entrepreneur, Kalu said he has consistently used his private businesses to create jobs for Nigerians and contribute to the economy, adding that politics has never been a primary source of income for him.
His comments have sparked renewed public debate about money in Nigerian politics, political sacrifice, and the role of business leaders in public office.
