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By Amaechi Agbo

Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu has disclosed his interest to buy shares in London-based English Premier League club side, Arsenal, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Kalu who disclosed this Monday on his Facebook noted that he was encouraged to go and buy 35% shares in the club following the success his state owned club, Enyimba International FC recorded in CAF Champions League during his tenure as Governor.

Under his stewardship as Abia State Governor, Enyimba rose to prominence with continental aura after they won the CAF Champions League back-to-back in 2003 and 2004.

Enyimba became the first Nigerian club side to achieve the feat and the former Governor who was crowned as the Pillar of Sports in Africa same period, believes that he can replicate the feat with Arsenal by helping them to win UEFA Champions League and the EPL back-to-back.

“Our success with Enyimba football club between 2000-2007 has continuously increased my passion for football,” Senator Kalu said on Monday.

“As the pillar of sports in Africa , I am considering an investment in football and I will buy 35 percent stake in Arsenal FC.

“Our target is to lift the Champions League and Premier League back to back as we did with Enyimba,” he concluded.

Send. Kalu is not the only Nigerian that wishes to buy large shares in Arsenal as Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangoye late last year declared his intention to takeover the ownership of Arsenal FC by the year 2021.

Dangote said he couldn’t buy Arsenal last decade because he was focusing on his $20 billion projects but with the project scheduled for completion soon, he would buying Arsenal in 2021.

“There’s a team I will like to buy someday. But like what I keep saying, today, we have $20 billion worth of project. And that is what I’m trying to concentrate on. I’m trying to finish building the company after we finish, maybe sometime in 2021, we can.
“I’m not buying Arsenal right now, till I finish all this (project) because I’m trying to take the company to the next level.”

Arsenal, despite winning the FA Cup last season, has not been able to reenact it’s formidable form that made the team win the 2004 EPL season undefeated.