I sold arms to anyone with money — Kalu

Orji Kalu, the former governor of Abia State, has revealed that he previously traded in heavy weapons internationally. In an interview with Arise Television, Kalu disclosed that he sold arms to buyers who could afford them, regardless of their intentions. When questioned about his involvement in the arms trade, Kalu insisted that his primary goal was to make money.

He denied selling exclusively to the African National Congress (ANC) during South Africa's struggle against apartheid, stating that his customers included anyone willing to pay for the weapons, be it in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Namibia, or elsewhere. Kalu further clarified that the weapons he dealt in were not small arms, but heavy weapons traded between countries.

He declined to disclose the source of the weapons, responding, "It's only my business." The interviewer raised concerns about the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria, but Kalu maintained that the weapons he traded were not small arms, emphasizing that they were heavy arms sold between countries. During the interview, Kalu also discussed his longstanding relationships with former and current South African leaders, tracing them back to his friendship with Nelson Mandela.

He explained that Mandela introduced him to several South African presidents, including Thabo Mbeki and Cyril Ramaphosa, and that Mandela's perspective on Mbeki's father's contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle influenced the ANC's decision to choose Mbeki as his running mate over Ramaphosa.