Sen Theodore Orji is a true indigene of Ibeku - Eze Onuoha.
Ibeku is the dominant clan in Umuahia North Local Gov¬ernment Area and comprises 15 autonomous communities which play host to Umuahia, the state capital.
Eze Onuoha, who is the Ogurube 4 of Ibekuland, spoke on Wednesday on Sen¬ator Orji’s nativity on the heels of media reports controverting the indigeneship of the former governor.
The monarch told news¬men in Umuahia that “Senator Orji is not only a bona fide son of the community, but an illus¬trious son of Ibeku who we are very proud of. Anybody with a contrary view is only playing to the gallery.”
According to him, anyone disputing the origin of Sena¬tor Orji is doing so solely for political reasons, and should be ignored.
Eze Onuoha said that Orji’s contribution to the develop¬ment of Ibekuland “right from his days as the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abia State gov¬ernor and now that he is a sen¬ator are unparalleled.”
His words: “T. A. Orji (Ochendo) did for us what no Ibeku man or any Abia gover¬nor has done. He brought rap¬id development to Ibeku. We revere him because he is an achiever, our illustrious son who has done us proud.
“I am the one who gave chieftaincy title to his son, Chinedum, who is also a wor¬thy son of Ibekuland. Nobody will come to say Ochendo is not from Ibeku. He has been advancing the cause of Ibeku people while he was Chief of Staff and when he became governor, he gave us a sense of belonging,” he said.
The octogenarian, who has been on the throne for 23 years, said he would not hes¬itate to endorse Senator Orji for a second term because of his impressive performance and quality representation at the Senate.
He also endorsed Orji’s son, Hon. Chinedum Orji, representing Umuahia Cen¬tral State Constituency, as well as Hon. Chukwudi Apu¬go, representing Umuahia East State Constituency at the Abia House of Assembly for a sec¬ond term.
“As the custodian of the customs and “Offor” of Ibeku¬land, I will endorse and give my blessings to Ochendo, his son Chinedum, and Chukwu¬di Apugo for a second term in office because they have done well so far. If they come to me in 2019, I will lay hands on them and endorse them, and success will follow them.
“Chukwudi Apugo came to me in 2015 when he was seeking election and I laid hands on him and blessed him and he was successful. He has not let Ibeku people down. He has been fighting as a lion to get our share at the House and that is the type of people we need to represent us.
“I am not a politician but as the custodian of the “Of¬for” (tradition) of Ibekuland, I know what is good for my people and I will not hide the truth from them. I am an in¬dependent mind and cannot doublespeak,” Onuoha de¬clared.
On the leadership crisis rocking the Ibeku Egwua¬sa Development Association (IEADA), the monarch sued for peace and enjoined both parties to work for the overall interest of their people.
The controversy followed the election of Chief Eme¬ka Enyeazu as the President-General of IEADA while an¬other faction also elected Chief Princewill Ukaegbu as the as¬sociation’s President.
The Enyeazu-led faction has since been recognised by the state government and en¬joys support from the people.
Eze Onuoha said that the rift would have long been re¬solved if the arrowheads in both camps had heeded his advice but noted that it was not late for the tussle to be perma¬nently put to rest.
Eze Onuoha appealed to Ibeku people to be united and “speak with one voice and as a people”, saying that he would love to see a united and undi¬vided Ibeku.”
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