The Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has disclosed that he financially supported former President Olusegun Obasanjo after his release from prison, including funding his travels and providing aircraft for his movements.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, also revealed that he played a significant financial role in funding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during its formation, but claimed that the party eventually turned against him despite his contributions.
The senator made the revelations during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday night, where he recounted his involvement in the establishment of the PDP and its struggle against military rule.
According to Kalu, he was among the early financiers of the party, providing money for meetings, aircraft, honorariums, feeding and other organisational expenses before prominent individuals joined in supporting the party financially.
He mentioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, businessman Yomi Edun and retired General Theophilus Danjuma among those who also contributed financially to the party.
Kalu explained that his decision to support the PDP was motivated by his desire to see a strong political platform capable of ending military rule and restoring democratic governance in Nigeria.
He said he was particularly pleased to support the party at a time when financial resources were limited, adding that he also provided financial assistance to Obasanjo after his release from prison.
“I was the one funding the meetings, aircraft, paying honorariums to people, cooking food, and the rest of them. For me, it was a joyful thing to make sure that we had a strong party to drive away the military, and that was the PDP,” he said.
The former governor disclosed that Obasanjo stayed at his residence in Victoria Island after leaving prison, claiming that he supported him financially and provided aircraft for his movements.
Kalu, however, expressed disappointment over what he described as the PDP’s failure to appreciate his contributions, alleging that the party eventually turned against him.
He said he could have become governor either on the PDP platform or another political platform, insisting that his financial contributions had helped strengthen the party when many of its members lacked the resources to sustain its activities.
“I was very happy, but I became a fool before the PDP because after bringing all the money, they turned against me,” he stated.
The senator further alleged that rather than benefiting from his contributions to the party, he suffered significant business losses.
According to him, the destruction of his businesses was what he received in return for the financial and logistical support he provided to the PDP and its key figures.
“What I got in return was the killing of my businesses,” Kalu said.
