Kalu Denies Political Patronage Claims, Tackles Orji Uzor Kalu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has strongly refuted claims by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, that he was responsible for his entry into politics.

In a detailed statement, Benjamin Kalu dismissed the assertion as false, insisting that his political career predated any association with the former governor.

He noted that he had already been active in national politics as a diaspora leader within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), participating in party conventions and engagements at the highest levels.

Kalu further disclosed that his early political involvement earned him recognition from the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, long before his first encounter with Orji Uzor Kalu.

According to him, their initial meeting was facilitated through a formal introduction by a senior PDP figure, Alhaji Shaibu Oyedokun, contrary to claims that he was politically nurtured by the former governor.

The Deputy Speaker also recounted a history of political disagreements between them, including his opposition to Orji Uzor Kalu’s nomination during the 2003 National Assembly primaries.

He stated that the dispute led to a reconciliation process within the party, which eventually saw him step down in support of the party’s candidate with assurances of future compensation.

Kalu alleged that those assurances were never fulfilled, claiming that his expected appointment as local government chairman was truncated, while a subsequent promise of a commissioner position was also withdrawn.

He further accused the former governor of undermining his political ambitions over the years, including attempts to block his electoral bids and alleged support for opposition candidates against him in multiple election cycles.

The Deputy Speaker maintained that despite these challenges, he continued to support Orji Uzor Kalu’s political pursuits, including his re-election bid in 2003.

On his emergence as a member of the House of Representatives and later as Deputy Speaker, Kalu dismissed any suggestion of external influence, insisting that his achievements were the result of personal effort, political resilience, and the support of his constituents.

He also alleged that the former governor worked against his political rise, including attempts to discredit him within the National Assembly and beyond.

Kalu concluded by warning against what he described as persistent misinformation, stating that he would no longer remain silent in the face of claims capable of damaging his reputation.