Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has claimed he has never gained personally from his political career, stating instead that he has consistently spent his own money to support both his political ambitions and public service roles.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, June 2, Kalu — who served as Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007 and currently represents Abia North in the Senate — insisted he remains a businessman at heart. According to him, his priority has always been investing in businesses that create jobs for Nigerians.

“When the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was formed in 1998, I donated millions of dollars to support it,” Kalu said. “Even as governor, I funded the state using my own money. That is the truth. I never benefitted anything from being governor. In fact, I lost a lot. The Federal Government even took several of my businesses. Politics has been more of a burden than a benefit to me.”

He emphasized that he had already achieved substantial financial success before venturing into politics.

“I made so much money before I turned 24. I didn’t need political office to succeed financially. I brought the money they used in forming the PDP. Ask any founding member — I contributed most of the funds in 1998 and 1999,” he said.

When asked where the funds came from, Kalu credited his thriving business ventures.

“I was the biggest importer of rice, sugar, confectionaries, and other goods. I also traded in petroleum products,” he explained. “Back then, the dollar was strong. I gave President Obasanjo over $1 million for his campaign and donated $500 million to the PDP. Apart from TY Danjuma and Atiku Abubakar, no one else at the time had the financial capacity to make such contributions.”

Kalu’s comments come amid ongoing national debates about the cost and ethics of political financing in Nigeria.

Watch a clip from the interview below.