The true story about the creation of Abia State has been revealed as those who feels contrary were also challenged to come up with details of what transpired during that process.
The issues concerning the creation of Abia State has finally arrived to a point of debate,as a member of the All Progressives Congress Board of Trustees and National Caucus,Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo , Ochiagha Oparaukwu Ibeku has challenged those parading themselves as the founding fathers of the State to come out with a proof of their roles,the evidence of who donated what,where and the last signature that ushered in Abia State.
While speaking on the creation of Abia State, newsstarlet gathered that Prince B.B Apugo was the person who carried the documents for the creation of Abia State to Abuja on his new Blue LLB1695 Mercedes Benz , according to the Stakeholder of APC.
He further added that the National Secretary for the creation of Abia Dr Agbara of Ndiolumbe appended his signature .
“There are people who go in offices claiming they are the founding fathers of Abia State .”
“I don’t know those who parade themselves,I can’t tell you one ,let the person challenge me , I can’t tell you one who was in the vanguard of the creation of Abia State.”
“It was me who carried the documents that was used in creating Abia State to Abuja and delivered it .”
“The last signature was signed in that house – those two windows in my house was where the national secretary for creation of Abia State , Dr Agbara of Ndiolumbe.”
“That was where he appended his last signature,though it was late -people had refused to go.”
“It was me and my driver ,the Car I used was new Blue LLB1695 Mercedes Benz ,it was where all the documents were kept ,i took it to the Federal Military Council ,the secretary then was Aliyu .”
Apugo further recalled how he made donation of Twenty Five Thousand Naira in the house of Dr M.I Okpara and Ten Thousand Naira at the Stadium to the excitement of Dr.Okpara who was using him as an example during the fund raising in order to lure other people to donate money.
“Even in the donation of money,let any Umuahia man who donated money in Dr Okpara’s house during the creation of Abia State come and challenge me .”
“I followed in donating the Twenty Five Thousand then, when we came to the stadium in Umuahia here ,Dr Okpara was calling one of them ,Chibuisi Onwuneme is still alive ,Dr Okpara said Chibuisi come and see what a younger boy to you is doing as I gave Ten Thousand Naira.”
He said that Anagha Ezikpe’s involvement in the creation of Abia State was after the executive have been completed and Chief Nnanna Kanu suggested for a Person from Abiriba to be incorporated into the system and Anagha Ezikpe became the financial secretary.
“It was after the executive have been completed that Chief Nnanna Kanu shouted ,ah !how is it that this executive is completed and there is no Abiriba man that Anagha Ezikpe was made the financial secretary for the creation of Abia State.”
“It doesn’t pay me to talk about it because I suffered ,we used night to deliver the documents for the creation of Abia State from Umuahia to Abuja.”
“We didn’t deliver our own on time because they have already left Dodan Barracks, Lagos to Abuja.”
Apugo who was also responding to issues bedeviling the All Progressives Congress both at the National and State level , added that APC cannot be compared to the People’s Democratic Party inspite having some challenges , while he maintained that the PDP is a compound failure in Abia State .
The party he added has not done any legacy project since 1999 of inception till date.
The APC chieftain said he would vote for an individual not political party in the Coming 2023 election as he hopes to make decision once INEC publishes names of Candidates for election in Abia by Tuesday 4th October 2022 .
He said the Peter Obi ‘s candidature is liberation for the old and young in the country, expressing optimism that Abia just as Nigeria is about to witness greatness through the emergence of Peter Obi in the 2023 election, saying the liberation of the State through good leadership must be pursued at at all cost
“We’ll librate Abia at any cost by entroning good leadership by 2023.”
He promised to dialogue with the candidates in order to have a chat with them for the common interest of Abia State.
“I don’t need to join a political party to give them my vote.”
“I’m above that type of person in Nigeria politics ,I won’t work for party,I work for person.”
“The problems we have faced in Abia have put everybody in the mind of not thinking that we are in Nigeria,but when you look at Ebonyi ,Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa which one will I mention and leave others?
“And this place is still filty and is covered with grasses yet you still talk about party,no! no!! no !!!I know that others are seeing it that way I’m seeing it.
“It is only people who goes to government and take salary that won’t see it that way but unfortunately now for them they have no chances again because their Salaries will stop in the next few months.”
Apugo while recieving the Umuahia North council of traditional Rulers at Egwu Ibeku where he performed some of the traditional functions as the custodian of Ibeku customs and traditions , urged them to uphold their Kingship and avoid being used by politicians as the importance attached to their position will be more effective if they use it in peace keeping and development of their various communities.
He added that the traditional Rulers have often been used as political tool and also ridiculed by the government , citing Examples of the roles he played to reinstate a traditional Ruler during the Orji Uzor Kalu’s administration when a staff of office was withdrawn from him as he charged them to guide their Royal status religiously.
During a courtesy visit a few of the traditional Rulers who spoke with newsstarlet commended Prince Benjamin Apugo for the Unity he has restored amongst Ohuhu and Ibeku.
His Majesty Eze Iheanyichukwu Chairman Ibeku Traditional Rulers Council expressed excitement at the unity established between Ibeku and Ohuhu , describing the New Yam Festival Celebration amongst them with their kinsmen as unique devoid of violence , adding that Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo has left indelible legacy by preserving the Culture.
He urged the younger ones to emulate good things and the traditional Rulers by avoiding rancour and all forms of discrimination.
Eze Mbakwe of Nkwoegu autonomous community commended Apugo for sustaining the culture and preventing it from going extinct as he noted that it was his first time to visit the Egwu Ibeku where he said was so precious to behold.
The Traditional Rulers also brought all the traditional rites for the Yam Festival
