From Steve Oko , Umuahia
The Ibeku Umuahia kinsmen of the All Progressive Congress, APC chieftain, Prince Benjamin Apugo, have threatened to expose him should he fail to halt his incessant media attacks on Senator Theodore Orji representing Abia Central senatorial district.
Senator Orji and Prince Apugo , both hail from Ibeku ancient kingdom but on parallel political lines.
The warning is coming on the heels of recent media attack by Apugo against the Abia former governor who he accused of corruption.
But in a swift response , Ibeku elders and stakeholders warned Apugo to cease further attacks on Orji who they described as “Ibeku son of inestimable value”.
In a statement signed by some eminent personalities from Ibeku land, the stakeholders challenged Apugo to identify one project he had used his influence to attract to the clan or anybody he established.
Signatories to the strongly worded statement include : former Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, and Commissioner for Public Utilities, Hon.. Chidiebere Nwoke; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Emma Nwabuko; and former Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya.
Others are former Chairman of Umuahia North Council, Sir Frank Ibe ; the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Ancient Kingdom, and business mogul, Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu; and elder statesman, Hon. G. O Onyemaobi.
The statement entitled “A Rejoinder to Prince B.B Apugo’s diatribe against the person of Senator T. A Orji”, read in part :
“The attention of the entire people of Ibeku land at home and in the diaspora has been drawn to the senseless diatribe of Prince B.B Apugo in some Radio stations in Umuahia against Distinguished T. A Orji.
“For the avoidance of doubt, whereas Senator T. A Orji is our son of inestimable value in whom we are well pleased, B. B Apugo is a primitive renegade to Ibeku people.
“By way of threshold, we would like to warn that whatever we say here in answer to the said rantings of B. B Apugo, will be a tip of the iceberg. We shall make more revelations, mention names with documents in support, if B. B Apugo ever attacks Senator T. A Orji again.
“Now in direct answer to the unwarranted, baseless, senseless, incoherent attack in which B. B Apugo accused T. A Orji of corruption, we call on discerning members of the public to compare T. A Orji who rose through the ranks of civil service to become Administrative Secretary in INEC, Permanent Secretary, Chief of Staff to Governor, Governor of Abia State for 8 years , and now a ranking senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without blemish, with a so-called but atrocious B. B Apugo, a private person incapable of holding a public office.
“To those who did not know, please know it now, and to those who knew, please confirm that B. B Apugo is a damn primitive man which he showed even in the said interview when he was asked a question in English Language on corruption in NDDC, a trending national issue, his answer was T. A Orji, and in vernacular with brutal bile totally unrelated to the question asked.”
Apugo’s kinsmen further alleged that self aggrandizement had been his only motive in politics.
They also challenged him to visit the United States as a corrupt -free man who had no record of fraud and dishonesty.
Apugo’s kinsmen also challenged him to explain how he acquired all the large expanse of land he owns around Umuahia.
“All the lock -up shops behind Umuahia Township Stadium and all the area of land around Central Bank and House of Assembly Road are typical examples.”
They, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard the vituperations of the APC chieftain against Orji, saying they were borne out of deep -seated resentment.
“As the good people of Ibeku get more united to think out ways to add to the developments that T. A Orji brought to our land, we urge everybody to be wary of B. B Apugo and his antics. We restate that we are ready for B. B Apugo, and will not not hesitate to expose him the more to the world”, they added.
In a similar vein a group known as Abia North Stakeholders Assembly, ANSA, has also flayed Apugo for attacking the former governor.
The group in a joint statement by its President General, Hon. Goodluck Ibem; and Secretary General, Hon. Sunday Chukwu, warned Apugo to desist from further hostilities against Sen. Orji.
According to the group, Apugo’s incessant “smear campaign against Sen. Orji exposes his stature as a political toddler”.
ANSA advised Apugo to honourably quit partisan politics for the younger generation and rather profer advice from the sidelines.
“What people like Apugo should do is to take a break from politics and play the seminal role of moulding consciousness than unguarded criticism.
“It is quite unfortunate that an octogenarian and supposed statesman who should have long taken a break from active partisan politics, given the time he began politicking and involving in state political activities will still be dragging for crumbs at a time his mates elsewhere are quitting the political space for the younger age and generation. This tells us the level of greed and insatiability the man in question inherently has.
“The question all should ask B. B. Apugo today is what significant project across the state that stands to his credit and in his name. Though now a member of APC’s trusteeship board, aware that his political sun is sure to set, B. B. Apugo now takes to calumny; regrettably, this is unbecoming of a statesman.
“Apugo, as we know him over decades, can never boast of any good not even for his state or as a respected citizen. He cannot also claim to have any ideological leaning and principles that can serve as alternative or better options than what he criticize today.”
