During the valedictory session marking the conclusion of legislative activities, which commenced on June 11, 2019, Senator Kalu Orji-Kalu, the Chief Whip of the 9th Senate, became overwhelmed with emotion and broke down.
Expressing his gratitude, Kalu thanked his colleagues for their unwavering support throughout his tenure as Chief Whip over the past four years. He also extended his appreciation to those colleagues who visited him while he was in prison.
Kalu emphasized that his election to the Senate provided him with a greater opportunity to champion the cause of a unified Nigeria. Dismissing allegations of theft, he asserted that he entered politics with a clean record, having never lacked anything and possessing the ability to acquire anything money could buy.
Furthermore, Kalu revealed that in 1997 and 1998, he contributed funds to support the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prior to assuming the position of governor. He firmly stated that he was not a thief.
He acknowledged that there were motives behind his imprisonment and lamented the subsequent takeover of his businesses. According to Kalu, Nigeria has not treated individuals like him fairly.
Highlighting his efforts in creating employment opportunities for Nigerians through the establishment of factories and manufacturing companies, Kalu expressed his frustration at being labeled a thief.
The valedictory session was attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Malam Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
Source: Vanguard