The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, on Sunday lamented the growing hatred and jealousy against successful people in Nigeria.

He stated this in a write-up titled, “Kuje: Two years after” to commemorate his incarceration at the Nigeria Correctional Service in Kuje, Abuja, two years ago.

He wished Nigerians could show love and empathy towards one another irrespective of their tribe or religious differences.

Kalu said, “The hatred, jealousy, betrayal, greed, bitterness in this country is enormous and terrible. People will just hate, curse, and envy you because you are successful, without considering how much hard work, energy, endurance, and patience you have expended in building businesses and your life.

“How I so much wish for love and empathy in this country. How I wish we can embrace and love each other. How I wish people could be more loving and considerate towards their neighbours with zero sentiments of tribe and language. How I wish people can have respect for human lives. I hope that with God on our side, our dreams will someday come true.

He continued, “Today (Sunday) is the second anniversary of my incarceration at the Nigerian Correctional Service Medial Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja. I was imprisoned for an offence I never committed. Despite all the witnesses rescuing themselves, I was pronounced guilty of 39 charges out of the 39 concocted charges levelled against me. What magic!”

Kalu said that in 1998 he used his money to fund his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and some individuals.

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He said, “I built several businesses and I left more than $4bn balance sheet before venturing into politics. Today, those who have done no business or multiplied any money parade themselves as holy saints whereas those who have worked hard and multiplied money are expected to be penniless.

“I am not a saint and should not be judged as one. I didn’t start life as a politician. I am a businessman; a capitalist with a human face. When I was governor 14 years ago, I served Abia with my conscience and left a prosperous and popular state.”

The former governor of Abia State claimed that he provided security, free education, infrastructure, built hospitals, and never owed salaries or pensions when he was in office.

“I created the enabling environment for business growth, encouraged and supported many businesses, and also grew sports. After I left office as Governor in 2007, I stayed out of power for 12 years and only became a Senator in 2019. The beauty of constitutional democracy is term limit and at all times, the government is a continuum. Today, my performance as governor is also being replicated as a Senator,” he said.

Kalu expressed gratitude to God, friends and compatriots, who stood by him in the six months he spent at the NCS in Kuje.

He said, “Those who conspired against me wanted me buried at all cost, but like the biblical Job, there is a sense in which God allowed those temporary and tragic events to happen to Job. My perception of life changed after the six months of incarceration – life is vanity. I did not just learn a lot of lessons, I became a reformed and better man.

“I was very impacted by what happened to me. For some, my imprisonment may have meant different things to them; but for me, my family, friends, business and political associates, supporters, as well as well-wishers, it was destiny at play.

“For all my friends and colleagues sitting in the upper and lower echelons who stood by me and the people of Abia North during the trying period, I remain very grateful. Throughout the six months, I ate once a day. I am so much grateful to my lovely wife for her timely delivery of the food.”