Apugo has no political relevance in Abia State–TA Orji
The immediate past governor of Abia State and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Theodore Orji has described Abia State political bigwig, Chief Benedict Benjamin Apugo as somebody who has no political relevance in Abia State.
Senator Orji argues that Apugo could not have supported him in any way during his elections that ushered him as the state governor since the latter has no political structure in the state, adding that the politician had no choice in 2007 than to pretend to be supporting him being the popular choice.
The former governor who spoke through his Media Adviser, Don Norman Obinna was reacting to a publication- “B.B Apugo bombs ex-Gov TA Orji again” published in a national daily of Monday, February 22, 2016.
In a statement refuting a myriad of claims by Apugo, Obinna pointed out that Apugo’s claims that he refused to support Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, the PDP governorship candidate in the 2007 general election but supported Sen T.A Orji was false.
“This assertion also is laughable when you consider the fact that Apugo has no political relevance in Abia State. For avoidance of doubt, B.B Apugo has never won any election even in his polling booth after the election of the NRC former governor of the old Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu 23 years ago and as such has no political clout to determine who the governor of Abia State would be. In fact, B.B Apugo’s candidates had never won election in Abia State even in his polling booth. So how can a monumental failure like B.B Apugo talked about supporting Ochendo when in actuality he has no viable political structure? The truth is that B.B Apugo had no choice in 2007 than to pretend to be supporting Ochendo because he was the obvious people’s choice”, Obinna hinted in the statement.
Obinna equally maintained that Sen Orji remains popular in his state, saying that the claim by Apugo that the former governor has been deserted by his people was a bogus claim.
“The claim that Ochendo’s people have deserted him was bogus because the breathtaking accolade that greeted his cameo appearance at the recently organized thanksgiving service of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu held at Umuahia township stadium was the symbol of his popularity among Abia residents, Obinna said.
Expressing shock, Obinna further queried “We also challenge B.B Apugo to stop this prevarication and boldly tell the world why he chose to antagonize rather than hold in high esteem the man who saved him from opprobrium and public odium. Could it be the demystification of B.B Apugo who prior to the emergence of T.A Orji as the governor of Abia State was a thin god? Or could it be the financial liberation by Ochendo of over 3000 Ibeku youths and members of Apugo’s consanguinity who he impoverished ad infinitum? Apugo should discard his anachronistic feudalistic ideology in favour of egalitarianism, in Abia State, especially in Ibeku kingdom by Ochendo”.
Obinna therefore, challenged Apugo to tell the world how he accosted T.A Orji immediately after he won the gubernatorial election and was sworn in as governor in 2007 and demanded for the whopping sum of N1.7 billion as reimbursement for his support, stressing that the refusal of T.A Orji to accede to this avaricious demand was the catalyst of Apugo’s never ending criticism of Ochendo’s government.
“This got to a crescendo when the resentful Apugo ridiculously demanded a whopping sum of N400 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a portion of land given to them by the Abia State government to erect its branch claiming ownership in his usual manner. To ensure that the CBN project was not hindered, Ochendo who had been enduring B.B Apugo’s constant act of irritability acted swiftly and wisely by paying on behalf of the CBN the N400 million demanded by Apugo. Can Apugo show us one individual from his community that he empowered with the proceeds?”.
He further stated that trying to smear Ochendo with the photo-shopped Okija shrine pictures in 2016 contemporary Nigeria is an indicator that the world has left B.B Apugo behind, saying that his revelation that T.A Orji spent 90 days in EFCC detention where he contested and won election and was sworn in as governor had made nonsense of the whole pictures because Ochendo would not have gone to Okija shrine as a governor on chains and proudly posed for a snap as that poverty stricken body which Ochendo’s head was superimposed did.
“B.B Apugo further ridiculed himself when the photos of the purported Ochendo’s visit to Okija shrine captured a fence of a building with its roof to prove that the pictures were actually taken in someone’s backyard. The questions B.B Apugo ought to answer at this moment are, were these pictures taken before or after Ochendo had become governor? If yes that they were taken after he became governor; then why was he on chain? Who chained him and for what purpose? Who snapped the pictures and for what motive? Was B.B Apugo part of Ochendo’s first term in office bondage that precipitated the liberation slogan of 2011? While we wait for his elementary response, we will advice Apugo to always pursue peace and seek those actions that will engender harmony and political stability in Abia State. Ochendo has since moved on and firmly loved by his people who found him worthy (through his conspicuous, unprecedented achievements while governor) to represent them at the Red Chambers of the National Assembly”, Obinna further stated.
Expressing shock, Obinna further queried “We also challenge B.B Apugo to stop this prevarication and boldly tell the world why he chose to antagonize rather than hold in high esteem the man who saved him from opprobrium and public odium. Could it be the demystification of B.B Apugo who prior to the emergence of T.A Orji as the governor of Abia State was a thin god? Or could it be the financial liberation by Ochendo of over 3000 Ibeku youths and members of Apugo’s consanguinity who he impoverished ad infinitum? Apugo should discard his anachronistic feudalistic ideology in favour of egalitarianism, in Abia State, especially in Ibeku kingdom by Ochendo”.
He however, stated that everyone is aware of the fact that Ochendo’s contributions to the development of the state among others have made him not just a politician but an institution in Abia State. Comparing Ochendo with Apugo according to Obinna is tantamount to comparing “God with Satan and one can imagine the disparity”.
Maida expressed excitement at Nigeria’s success at World Radio Communications Conference 2023
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