Ochiagha Oparaukwu Ibeku Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo has expressed excitement at the official kick off of Ibeku New Yam Festival.
While interacting with Newsmen, Apugo stressed the need for people to trace their roots in order to participate in the culture and traditions as that gives one identity, saying that the Ibeku New Yam Festival has contributed to making many people trace their roots.
“Most of the people that never knew their roots have come back to their roots.”
“Root is natural,root is inherited .”
He said that the Ibeku tradition which he upholds as a custodian must be preserved and improved upon , adding that the traditional rights he had performed during the start of the Festival are establishments which existed before he was born , a tradition of his forefathers he said.
“We have to be in the bush for one week without eating before the date, we’ll come out by midnight and start the celebration. “
Apugo expressed concern over the inability of most of the people in understanding the essence of culture and tradition while describing the New Yam Festival as important to the whole Igbo race which reminds one of another year of ceremony.
Ochiagha said that youths of Ibeku by their activities lately have come to realize that they cannot change their roots .
“Everybody have realized that they cannot change their roots no matter the money you have if you’re a slave you’re a slave , your root is slavery.”
He said he established and built the College at Isieke Ibeku, his mother’s home which is the head of Ibeku where his great great grand father’s made their head quarters in order to sustain his inheritance .
Reacting to the situation of things in Abia State, Apugo maintained that Abia is bushy rotten and lacks proper governance since 24 years , adding that there’s one thing Umuahia north local government have which other local government lacks in Nigeria .
He cited examples of Dr M I Okpara and General Aguiyi ironsi who were all from Umuahia.
“This is my hometown, I’m an Ibeku Prince , the owner of this land .”
“Look !,there is one thing that Umuahia north local government have other local government in Nigeria doesn’t have it.”
“One is the head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, General Aguiyi ironsi comes from Umuahia Ibeku here and Dr M.I Okpara former Premier of Eastern Nigeria came from Umuahia Ibeku here”
” So If you ask me weither there’s been government here (in Abia),it has been so there have never been any government here since 24 years .”
He said that it is shameful to talk about the All Progressives Congress as a Board of Trustees member when they have failed to give employment or appointment to the people from his local government .
B. B Apugo noted that 2023 elections will be critical to the future of Nigeria as political parties will not matter but individuals with pediigree.
“I have said it that I will not particularly vote about a party, I’ll vote for an individual because of what that individual will do.
The occasion witnessed procession by Ochiagha Oparaukwu Ibeku Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo to the venue where the traditional rites were exercised.
There were masquerades,dances of different villages of Ibeku where the culture was in full display.
