The former Governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu, in an interview, slammed former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying his anti-corruption fight was selective.
Kalu alleged that OBJ used the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to settle scores with his political opponents.
The former Governor said this when asked about his opinion on the anti-corruption stance of President Buhari.
An excerpt of his interview obtained from The Daily Sun reads: “He (Buhari) should not fight corruption the way former President Olusegun Obasanjo did, when you have seen me spend security vote and you are after me on that to settle personal scores. You pursue people for not supporting your inordinate ambition and policies, it is wrong. I appeal to President Buhari not to get involved in that kind of corruption-fighting and I am happy he has appointed someone who has lesser belief in material things, as acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). I am saying this because when all these people say they are fighting corruption, they don’t really fight corruption. You know I don’t fear anybody; I’m not even afraid of dying today and not afraid of not saying the truth.”
Kalu also said “He (Buhari) is not selective at all. People should not expect him to pick on those who were not in power and had nothing to do with our commonwealth. It is those who were entrusted with our money he is calling to come and give account of what they did with the money. So, he is not selective. I sincerely believe that if people abuse their offices, they should be punished thoroughly, not looking at who is involved. I have always said it even before President Buhari that he should not have two sets of rules but one and if he maintains that, he is not going to be in problem with anybody. Mind you, the European and North American countries have a lot of belief in his attitude to fighting corruption; they have not disapproved that and it’s high rating for him. I don’t know what Nigerians think, but he has high rating from the international community in his ability to genuinely clean the cobwebs in the four corners of the house and I think this is what he is doing.”
“People might be saying it was the same Buhari, who wanted to lock everybody up, you cannot leave people who genuinely stole Nigeria’s money. Some people they said stole money, did not steal any money. Within me, when I look at myself, my conscience tells me I did not break any law, but the matter is in the court of law. I believe sincerely that Buhari cannot lock anybody up in prison that did not do anything. What will he gain from it? He also knows that this is democracy and not military rule; so, he is applying due process in his fight against corruption,” the ex-Governor said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permission to try the former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu on corruption charges.
The decision was announced by Justice Suleiman Galadima on March 18, 2016.
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