Former Abia State Governor and senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has alleged that several Nigerians who were previously involved in advanced fee fraud (419) and other criminal activities abroad have now entered politics in the country.
In a video shared on his Facebook page, Kalu claimed that some of these individuals once engaged in fraudulent schemes and dangerous crimes in South Africa and South America, and have brought those habits into Nigerian politics.
“Most people, some of them were overseas doing 419, doing all kinds of dangerous crime all over, and you know a leopard cannot change its skin,” Kalu said.
“When people are used to taking money that doesn’t belong to them, they can never change their character. If you’re expecting them to change, it is not true. They can never change.”
Kalu urged both politicians and civil servants to take responsibility for redirecting Nigeria’s economic dynamics, arguing that the country has the potential for great prosperity if its systems are managed properly.
He questioned the culture of hoarding foreign currency, saying:
“Why should people stack dollars in their houses? Why should people be giving out dollars? It’s not our legal tender. People should learn how to put the money in Nigeria’s system so Nigeria can now benefit from the money that we’re transacting on.”
The former Senate Chief Whip also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to join politics for the right reasons rather than personal enrichment.
“Let the good people come and join and make politics better the way it should be,” he said.
“It’s not for saints, but it’s not for people that have damaged themselves by cheating white men or other black people. Let’s support our economic reforms, regardless of our political affiliations, and build a new Nigeria.”