The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has responded forcefully to repeated claims by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu that he “made” him politically, describing the assertion as false and damaging to his reputation.
In a lengthy private message reportedly leaked to the media, the Deputy Speaker laid out a detailed chronology of their relationship, disputing the senator’s claims and accusing him of repeatedly working against his political rise.
Kalu maintained that he was already active and recognised in political circles before his first encounter with the former Abia governor. He said he served as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) diaspora leader covering several regions and attended national conventions at the invitation of the party’s National Working Committee. According to him, he had achieved significant standing within the party structure at a time when he had no personal relationship with Orji Uzor Kalu. He added that their eventual meeting was arranged through a formal introduction by a senior PDP figure, not as a result of political mentorship.
He questioned the claim that he was brought into politics by the senator, recalling that he openly challenged processes linked to him during early primaries ahead of the 2003 elections. He further alleged that while he was later offered a local government chairmanship as part of a political resolution, the opportunity was abruptly truncated, and a subsequent promise to appoint him as commissioner was also withdrawn within days.
Kalu also revealed that despite these setbacks, he supported Orji Uzor Kalu’s 2003 re-election bid, contributing financially and logistically. He referenced fundraising efforts at the time, insisting there were records to support his claims of backing the governor’s second-term ambition.
The Deputy Speaker went further to accuse the senator of consistently undermining his political aspirations in subsequent years. He alleged that Orji Uzor Kalu covertly backed opposition candidates against him during his bids for the House of Representatives and withdrew support at critical stages of party primaries. He recounted instances where, according to him, political meetings ended with open declarations of withdrawal of support, as well as efforts to impose alternative candidates.
He also made claims of direct interference in party processes, including alleged attempts to disrupt primary elections and incidents where election materials were targeted. He suggested that some of his setbacks in earlier contests were linked to such actions, though he maintained that he ultimately prevailed through persistence.
On the issue of his emergence as Deputy Speaker, Kalu rejected any suggestion of assistance from the senator, alleging instead that there were attempts to discredit him through negative media campaigns. He claimed that one such campaign was later traced to an individual who confessed involvement, prompting authorities to consider further action before he chose to let the matter go.
Kalu also revisited their political engagements in more recent election cycles, alleging that the senator did not support his aspirations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and, in some instances, actively worked against him. He claimed that even after securing party tickets and winning elections, efforts were made to challenge his victories in court and weaken his political standing.
In a particularly emotional section of the message, the Deputy Speaker referenced a past business relationship, alleging that he suffered significant financial losses linked to decisions made during a period when the former governor faced legal troubles abroad. He described the experience as deeply painful and said it further contradicts the narrative that he benefitted from Orji Uzor Kalu’s influence.
He also recalled standing by the senator during difficult periods, including times when, according to him, others had distanced themselves. He claimed he rejected alternative political opportunities in order to remain loyal, even when advised otherwise.
Concluding, Kalu firmly rejected the repeated claim that he was politically made by the senator, insisting that his career was built independently long before their association. He challenged Orji Uzor Kalu to provide concrete evidence of any decisive role in his rise and warned that he would no longer remain silent in the face of what he described as repeated misrepresentation.
The exchange underscored a widening rift between the two prominent Abia politicians and signaled escalating tensions that could shape future political dynamics within the state.
