From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Recently, the people of Ibeku, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, celebrated their annual New Yam festival. The Ochiagha and Oparaukwu Ibeku, Prince Benjamin Apugo spoke to newsmen on the sideline of the event.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Caucus member spoke on varied issues. Excerpts:
The people of Ibeku just celebrated their New Yam festival, among the dignitaries that graced the event was Governor Alex Otti, who was represented by his deputy. What would you like the state government to provide for your people?
Yes. I have asked the governor, Dr Alex Otti, to reconstruct the Ohafia/Bende Road. I had earlier discussed that with him, and he has personally told me that he will do that. Another project is the construction of a stadium here in Umuahia, which is the state capital. Umuahia does not have a stadium befitting a state capital. We want concrete infrastructure that will change the face of Umuahia. For now, there is nothing to show that Umuahia is the Abia State capital. But I know that Governor Otti will change the face of the state capital because Umuahia North and South gave him more than 62,000 votes during the last governorship election, and we’re supposed to benefit based on these number of votes.
What is your reaction to talks about Governor Otti moving to APC?
First of all, I believe that you heard (Julius) Abure saying that Governor Otti has no power to convene a meeting of Labour Party stakeholders? Having said that, all I can say for now is that we should watch to see whether another party will not spring up.
Some people accuse Ibeku people including you of not cultivating enough yam, yet they celebrate New Yam festival every year. What’s your reaction on this?
If you doubt that I am a farmer, I challenge you to come out any day and my people will take you to Alulu, and you’ll see the large acres of land Ochiagha cultivated. And let me remind you that Ibeku people are the only people that are farmers in the whole of Umuahia North and South. The Ohuhu, Olokoro man will tell you that Ibeku people are the real farmers in this area. I inherited farming from my parents, and 45 per cent of the yams I cultivated in my farm are from my parents. Why am I living in the village, if I cannot farm?
Can you tell us the magic behind the large turnout of people in this year’s New Yam festival despite the hardship in the country?
I don’t think there is magic behind the large number of people at this year’s New Yam festival. This festival has been there for years, and it has become statutory. Every Ibeku son and daughter living in Abia and outside, and even in the Diaspora is aware that we are celebrating our New Yam festival today (Friday). It’s a historic event, and our people are getting more and more interested in promoting their culture and tradition, and that accounts for the large turnout of people today. I have not seen this crowd before, and being the custodian of Ibeku custom and tradition, I feel quite excited.
You’re a chieftain of APC, are you satisfied with what the APC-led Federal Government has done for Abia?
I’m not satisfied. The Federal Government should do more for us. We want an airport in Abia. It’s true that a land allocated for the airport project has been surveyed, we would like the actual construction work to commence. Talking about railways, everybody knows that Umuahia is Number one railway station in the country because here we produce cocoa, palm oil, palm kernel, banana, pineapple and all sorts of fruits, and all these produce were in the past conveyed by rail. Unfortunately, Umuahia railway station has been abandoned. I wonder why the railway line from Port Harcourt will stop at Aba and wouldn’t come to Umuahia. Yes, we heard that some people removed the sleeper, and if they did, it is the the duty of the Nigerian Railway Corporation to replace them, as well as provide security for the rail line. The Abia State government should bring pressure to bear on the APC-led Federal Government to ensure train services are restored from Aba – Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ovim-Enugu. Nevertheless, I don’t want to make my feelings known now regarding the state of our affairs. At the appropriate time, I will make my feelings known, and what I say is real. I am only a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC and also a member of the National Caucus of the APC; but I am not the state governor.
Are you happy with the representation of Abia by her lawmakers at the NASS?
I am not happy. I told the Hon. member (Obi Aguocha) who came here with the governor’s representative that they are not representing us well. Even the representative who comes from Bende who calls himself Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has not done well either. I have not seen anything he has achieved. This Bende road we are talking about leads to his home town, but you can see how bad the road is, and the man is busy calling himself Number six in the hierarchy of leadership of the country. But as far as I am concerned, his Number six has no meaning. Those people we voted for to represent us should tell the Federal Government the needs of their people, but for just very view, others are only interested in collecting their salaries and constituency allowances.
