I funded PDP's formation, Obasanjo's travels – Kalu

Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has claimed that he financed key activities during the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party, including meetings, aircraft, feeding and honorariums for participants.

The senator representing Abia North also said he funded former President Olusegun Obasanjo's movements after his release from prison, alleging that his political involvement eventually contributed to the collapse of his businesses.

Kalu made the revelations during an interview on Arise Television's Prime Time on Monday night, while reflecting on his political journey and relationship with past Nigerian leaders.

He said several prominent politicians contributed financially to the formation of the PDP, mentioning Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Yomi Edu and former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma.

However, Kalu claimed he shouldered several operational expenses during the party's formation.

“But I was the one funding the meetings, aircraft, paying honorariums to people that came, from cooking food and all the rest of them. That is the truth,” he said.

The former governor explained that his contributions were motivated by the desire to establish a political platform capable of ending military rule and restoring democratic governance.

He, however, alleged that the party later turned against him despite the resources he invested in its establishment.

“I became a food before the PDP because after bringing all the money, they turned against me,” he said.

When asked whether becoming Abia governor on the PDP platform was a benefit from his contributions, Kalu dismissed the suggestion, insisting that his financial investment in the party was worth far more than the political office he occupied.

“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.

Kalu also recalled supporting Obasanjo after the former military ruler was released from prison, saying he hosted him at his Victoria Island residence and provided aircraft for his movements.

“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.

The senator claimed that his political commitments came at a significant financial cost, adding, “What I got in return is killing off my businesses.”

He maintained that he had been financially successful before venturing into politics but subsequently suffered business losses.

Kalu governed Abia State between 1999 and 2007.

He had previously claimed that he contributed the PDP's first N500m and donated more than N100m towards Obasanjo's 1998 presidential campaign.

In a 2017 interview with The PUNCH, the former governor also alleged that the party later took over his bank, airline and oil licence.

During Monday's interview, Kalu discussed his relationship with former military Head of State Ibrahim Babangida, whom he described as his mentor and a person he continued to respect.

Asked whether the relationship had brought him financial benefits, the senator denied receiving monetary benefits, saying, “I had a lot of friendly benefits from that relationship.”