Former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu, has claimed the fraud allegation against him was work of people against his presidential ambitions.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, the Senate Chief Whip noted that; “The only two zones that have not produced president in Nigeria are the southeast and Northeast”.
He said if the All Progressives Congress (APC) zones the presidential ticket to south, he will contest.
Meanwhile, Kalu had last year claimed he has no presidential ambition come 2023 and was only concerned about returning to the senate.
He had said; “I don’t have Presidential ambition ahead of 2023 because my plan, for now, is to return to the Senate which to me. It is a very interesting place to mingle with other Nigerians and serve one’s father’s land”.
Denying he has any charges hanging around him, Kalu said; “Apart from the gang-up to put me in prison, I don’t have any record anywhere. I’m not afraid of anything; I’m only afraid of God. I’m the most prepared presidential aspirant because even if I’m old, I’m young at heart.
“The most important thing is the business of unity of the country. I’m not afraid of anybody because I’ve not done any illegal business before,” he boasted.
ALSO READ: 2023: It’s an insult to Nigerians for Tinubu to contest — Bode George
“I don’t have any charges hanging around me, it is you press that creates what you call charges and I am not supposed to talk about matters in court, because you should know better than what I went to court to do is not ‘charges’ but to ask that some of my assets be released.
“That matter is in the court and I would not like to discuss the matter further.
“You knew me before 1999. You knew I bankrolled all the money politicians paid during that period in the PDP.
“So, how can I become a thief suddenly? People are pursuing me because they know I want to be president from day one”.
“Who exactly are those pursuing the former governor of Abia State and for what reason or purpose?
“They are Nigerians who want to be president. They are Nigerians who want to set me aside; they just want to destroy me.
“There’s a lot of jealousy in the system- a lot of people who think I became successful at an early age. The question is, why must I have money and have power. Is life like that? These people carelessly put me in prison for six months for doing nothing.
“I’m not bitter about it because it is God’s will and it is our court system that put me in prison. There were 19 witnesses in the court and nobody called my name or traced anything to me; I don’t want to talk about this matter. Don’t drag me into it”.
