Kinsmen Condemn Media Attacks on Sen. Orji, Extol His Virtues

 Ibeku people under the auspices of Ibeku Progressive Association have risen in defense of the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, waving aside media attacks against him as handiwork of mischief-makers. In a communiqué on Thursday jointly signed by the Chairman Ibeku Council of Rulers, His Royal Highness, Eze Henry Ihezekwem and all the Presidents of Ibeku Egu Asaa in Umuahia the Abia State capital, the IPA said they were aware that the media campaign of calumny against the Senator representing Abia Central were sponsored by few disgruntled Old Bende people because he stood his ground and doggedly facilitated the shift of Power to the Abia South.

 According to them, this noble act infuriated certain myopic elements in Old Bende whose intention was to undermined equity consequently the recruitment of Judases - Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu (Bawas) and Eze S.I Onuoha (Eke 1 of Eke) – to cast aspersions on Sen. Orji whom they described as a great son of Ibeku. “We need to clarify here that Abia state stands on a Tripod of Three zones - Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South - with traditional home origins of Old Bende division and Aba division (Ukwa la Ngwa axis).
 Power Shift was not only done in Abia State but in other states like Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Benue states to mention but a few, and till today no one has been found casting aspersions on the facilitators, except here in God's Own State. “Abia people must of necessity put on their thinking Caps as our emphasis on zero - sum politics will not augur well for the betterment of ndi Abia. Mind you, it is only in Abia state that the gubernatorial election, won and lost in 2015 is still being challenged in the Courts of Law. If we must progress as a people, we must refrain from prevarication and hypocrisy in the pursuit of equity and justice.

 “Bearing in mind that Power shift is not eternal, it is a marriage that will terminate at a given time and we should allow ndi Abia South to enjoy their stay in Umuahia -Ibeku, the state capital. The smear campaign against Chief T.A.Orji (CON) is to say the least Hateful and Envious. It smacks of a drowning adversary,” IPA said. The IPA further described Sen. Orji as a Colossus in the Nigerian political space adding that his status as the only Abian of two terms Governorship and a sitting Senator were aspirations for others. The Association also noted that Sen. Orji must know that people are envious of his attainments and consequently should be conscious of the words of Former President Babangida that "I don't join issues with my juniors’’ “Sen. Orji has a Glorious history, a core old Bende son more than his traducers; a Son of Ibeku of Tom Ikoro Orji Ancestry.

His Father, Tom Ikoro Orji was a Warrant Chief of 1st class status who led other Chiefs in Ibeku to sign agreement for cessation of hostilities between Ibeku and the then colonialists and then handed down Ibeku Umuahia,now capital of Abia state in 1917 to the British colonialists. “We, Ibeku people restate for emphasis that we are indeed proud of Senator T.A Orji – Ochendo (CON), for his numerous achievements as Administrative Secretary NECON and eventually INEC, Permanent Secretary, Chief of Staff, Executive Governor and now Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”