Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has described the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s life in public service as truly reflective of the spirit of the Aba man.
Ikpeazu, while speaking as the Special Guest at the launch of an autobiography of Senator Abaribe today in Abuja, which was contained in a release issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, stated that Abaribe embodies the can-do spirit of Aba which has the ability to rise above challenges and record successes.
According to him, “The Aba spirit is enterprising and full of energy. It doesn’t succumb to intimidation and is ready to meet challenges as they come. That is why we are better traders than the Lebanese and can match the Chinese in manufacturing.”
Governor Ikpeazu congratulated Senator Abaribe for “writing his own story in his own words because if he leaves it for another person to write, he may not recognize himself afterwards.”
The State Chief Executive noted the importance of history in our quest for national development and expressed pleasure that the subject of history is gradually returning to the curriculum of our schools.
He also used the opportunity to wish the Senator a happy 66th birthday.
The event which was chaired by former Governor Peter Obi attracted the presence of top dignitaries, especially serving and former members of the National Assembly, which included the Senate President who was represented by Senator Ajayi Borrofice.
Obi stated that Nigerians speaking truth were being targeted.
He specially hailed Abaribe, for always standing by what is right.
Obi told the gathering that he was at the ceremony in dual capacities.
“I am here today as the representative of the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, in the last elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and in my own capacity as the chairman of the occasion.”
Obi described Abaribe as a true legislator, a law preacher and a law defender.
“Enyinnaya Abaribe is courageous in speaking out when there is injustice, falsehood, marginalization and speaking truth to power, especially in a country where it is a grave offence to do so”, he said.
Obi noted that he knows how it feels to be persecuted for speaking the truth.
“I know this myself because I know what I go through when I speak out against the ills of government, especially the financial recklessness and political irresponsibility that has pervaded every part of our nation.
“Even this morning, in a conference, I disagreed with a position by another presenter who quoted NBS saying that the poverty line in Nigeria is estimated at N137,430 per person per year, therefore those who earn more than that are considered sufficient.
“We should draw our own poverty line from the global standard of less than$1.90 per day, also used other developing countries. By our official exchange rate, the global poverty line is about N900 per person per day, even though I peg it at N1000 and N30,000 per person per month.”
Obi urged the government to implement measures that will combat the increasing poverty in the country.
He urged prominent citizens to speak out against the ills of the society such as insecurity, banditry, increasing poverty, waste in governance.
