The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Saturday, wept profusely during valedictory session of the 9th Senate as he spoke about his prison experience.
He said Nigeria was not fair to him for calling him a thief.
Kalu representing Abia North Senatorial District, was sentenced by a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court for 12 years over N7.65 billion fraud when he was governor of Abia State.
He lamented that he was called a thief, saying he had been a successful business man before politics in 1999.
According to him, he financed the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 1997 and 1998.
Though he described Nigerians as “wonderful people,” he expressed disappointment over the humiliation he went through in hands of “agents of government.”
Kalu said some elements, who cannot explain the source of their wealth are walking around freely while they harrass and call those who work hard in business thwives.
He thanked the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima for always coming to see him in prison on a weekly basis throughout the time he spent in prison and those who showed concern over his imprisonment.
He said: “Before I joined politics, I had money to buy whatever I wanted. I had already established manufacturing companies in Onitsha and three manufacturing companies in Aba.
“Between 1997 and 1998, I financed the Peoples Democratic Party and those who do come to my house for transport fares are those labelling me a thief.”
