I’m Not Supporting Tinubu Because of My EFCC Case, Orji Uzor Kalu, Replies Abati

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has said he was not supporting President Bola Tinubu to enable him to win any corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former governor of Abia State, made the clarification in a social media broadcast on yesterday in response to an allegation against him by a former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Abati had on a television programme said, “Many Nigerians say you (Kalu) are  supporting President Tinubu because it was under his tenure that your case was dismissed due to lack of diligent prosecution, incompetent filing of processes and EFCC was even prohibited from ever bringing up the case again.”

But the Senator, currently representing Abia North Senatorial District said the allegation by Abati was an insult on his person and that of President Tinubu.

 “Dr. Abati  you know and I respect you a lot and I have known you for a very long time and you know I have a very strong character.
“I had a case with the EFCC and because I appeared in all court proceedings for 12 years, I never ran away and I never missed any court sitting. I am not the kind of person that will dodge court sittings.

“I want to remind you and I don’t want to talk about the judiciary because it will be like discussing a case that has passed through the court.

“All the matters raised in the court were not adjudicated under President Tinubu. I was in court and there were 19 witnesses and none of them were found against me.

“The reason I was sentenced to jail can only be answered by God and I am very grateful to God that I went to jail.

“It made me see both the bad, the good and the ugly and I am very happy. Mind you, that year I was supposed to have travelled to Wuhan on 19th of December and the COVID-19 virus started in Wuhan, maybe you could have been singing my funeral song by now.

“Let me tell you, I am not even afraid of Death. You should know me, Reuben. I am not afraid of anybody and I speak the truth. I support the party and the president who is also a member of my party.

“Reuben, I can’t support you because you’re not a presidential candidate and you’re not ruling Nigeria, even in the bible, God said we should pray and support our leaders and that is exactly what I am doing.

“So if you want to be journalist, remain as one, and if you want to be politician leave journalism and come and join people like us.”