My EFCC case is politically motivated-Kalu

Former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, has declared that his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is political, saying that he already owned Hallmark bank and Slok Group of companies before he assumed office as governor of the state in 1999.

Kalu stated this at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka at the weekend where he delivered the Faculty of Arts distinguished lecture titled ‘Culture, Leadership and Higher Education in Nigeria.’

The former governor, who is currently facing 34-count charge bordering on fraud during his time as governor, said rather than been commended for enthroning good leadership, people are busy deploying state machinery to destroy his businesses.

He said: “My EFCC case is political, I was already an accomplished businessman before I joined politics.

“I had Hallmark Bank and Slok before 1999 when I became governor of Abia state,” he said.

Kalu lamented that till date Nigerian leaders have not learnt the acts of democracy adding that the flippant disregard to court orders are alien to democracy.

“There is no democracy in Nigeria because our leaders do not respect rule of law, obey court orders or act in the interest of their followers”, he said.

“A charismatic leader has transformative effect on his followers making them change their values and beliefs or behaviours and attitudes.

“In my days as the governor of Abia state, I did my best to pull the state from the backwaters of development and place it on a pedestal where it would no longer be ignored’’ he said.

He noted that the problem confronting the nation is lack of visionary leadership.

“If Nigeria has leaders with good vision, all forms of agitations in the country would not have arisen. If the country is well structured no one will say I am Igbo, I am Hausa or I am Yoruba.

“I call on all leaders, especially those involved in education and formation of the minds of those who will become our successors tomorrow, to lay more emphasis on teaching cultures and those aspects that would help to restore the dignity of man.

“If we fail to do that we would have created opportunity for the erosion of the dignity of man by man himself.

“I call on all leaders, especially those involved in education and formation of the minds of those who will become our successors tomorrow, to lay more emphasis on teaching cultures and those aspects that would help to restore the dignity of man,” he said.

He appealed to people to respect their cultures and tradition adding that people without culture is like people without history.

In a remark, UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba expressed gratitude to the guest lecturer for delivering an inspiring and educating lecture.

“I believe we are all leaving here educated and enlightened from his immense knowledge, we thank the former governor and shall be happy to have him here again” he said.

Earlier, the Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof. Christan Onyeji, thanked Kalu for accepting to be their second distinguished lecturer.

Onyeji highlighted problems facing the faculty to include inadequate office accommodation; Coaster bus to enable students of the faculty attend field trips as well as leaking roof of the faculty building.