November 5, 2024. It was a happy day; a day of profound joy among the family members, associates and friends of Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo, the legendary ‘Ochiagha’ (war commander), and ‘Oparaukwu’ (first son) of the famous Ibeku, founder of Ibeku kingrdom, in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. It was a day Prince Apugo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC); strongman of Abia politics, celebrated his 73rd birthday anniversary with pomp and pageantry. As usual, Prince Apugo used the opportunity provided by the remarkable occasion to speak with select journalists on the stunted development of Abia state, his expectations from Governor Alex Otti, who takes the blame over the current economic hardship in the country. Our Correspondent was there for SummitNews.
Excerpts:-
How do feel attaining 73 years?
At 73, I feel very happy as always.
You look so healthy and strong even at 73. What is the secret behind that?
There is no secret behind that other than the fact that I am always a happy man – Happiness gives you life, particularly when you’re not working against any person. And you feel happier when you have hope, just like the hope I have for the development of my home town, and by my home I mean Abia state, Bende and Ikwuano-Umuahia.
Don’t you think that this hope of developing the areas you mentioned has taken a long time to materialize. Are you still hoping that this will happen?
Yes. It was because of that desire for the development of Ikwuano-Umuahia, Bende and the entire Abia state, that we removed the bad people from government, and working together with the good people of Abia state, we put a new government in place led by Dr. Alex Otti. So, the hope of developing Abia state now lies on the government of Dr. Otti. I am not going to look at my past hope which was hopelessly dashed by hopeless people. As I am talking to you, the Otti-led administration has awarded contract for the reconstruction of the dilapidated Umuahia-Bende road, and I understand money for this project has already been released. I have talked about the need to work on this road since the past 25 years now, and so if today the contract for the reconstruction of this road has been awarded, nobody can say that one is hoping against hope.
Are you not worried that the business of governance in Abia has been conducted in Nvosi, the governors home town since he assumed office on May 29, 2023?
I was worried, though I have never commented on this particular issue. I have waiting for Governor Otti to change his footsteps, and he has just done that. I understand that the Administration has started holdings the weekly executive council meeting at Government House, here in Umuahia, the state capital.
Some people allege that Governor Otti has ‘settled’ you hence you have not criticized his administration as you did to previous administrations in the state. How do you react to this allegation?
Otti has not settled me; settle me with what? What happened was that he came to my house yesterday(November 4), and we talked at length. He assured me that he will do those things I should have been worried about. And I am satisfied with his assurances. You know that I am a member of APC, and you also know that APC has no religion; they can attack you at any given time. If they want to control Abia state, they will definitely come for it. The governor knows that I am a member of APC; and he knows that I have waited for a long time for development to come here. I know he has made some moves for one or two projects to be sited here. For instance, he informed me that the construction of Abia airport will be flagged off in December. So, why shouldn’t I be happy. He also promised that work on the International stadium to be sited here in Umuahia will soon commence. He has acquired the land for the stadium project, and the land has been surveyed. And in the next two weeks, he will pay compensation to the land owners. Anybody who knows me, should know that nobody can settle me. If anybody can settle me, I will not be living here in Abia state among my people. As a member of the APC Board of Trustees, as well as member of the National Caucus of the party, I ought to be resident in Abuja where I will be closer to the federal government. My concern is to develop my home, and not for anybody to settle me. And Otti has got nothing to settle me with. I am not a contractor. I have not asked the government to employ any body from my side. I have neither asked for a commissionership slot, nor that of a council chairman or a councilor. What do you call settlement?
Have you seen a rapid development of Abia state under Otti since he assumed office over a year ago?
No. I said the governor visited me yesterday(November 4), and he laid down all the things I would have been speaking about with you today. The process of realizing the projects he spoke to me about is ongoing, and I see the process as realistic. And since the process is realistic, I won’t be able to now say that nothing has happened in Abia state in terms of development. Beginning from today, if nothing happens, I will tell you so during my next interview with you.
How are you sure the governor will honor the promises he made to your regarding bringing development to Abia state?
Governor Otti cannot play with me, and nobody plays with B. B. Apugo. I have confidence in Otti that he will bring development to Abia state. And that confidence is derived from the fact that Otti has traveled far and wide, and has seen what a developed society looks like. He is not a cheap material like T. A. Orji, and the rest of them.
While inaugurating the newly elected council chairmen, Governor Otti expressed worry over attacks on his administration by the opposition PDP in the state. How justified is this worry expressed by the governor?
He should not worry himself about the PDP, rather he should worry himself about APC. Let nobody think that APC in Abia is dead. Take it from me that APC in Abia is more than alive. I am APC, and APC is me(laughter).
But Ochiagha, have you forgotten that a tree cannot make a forest?
APC is a political party. and not a tree.
Is it correct to say that APC is trying to form a formidable force prior to 2027 general elections？
APC in Abia has already become a formidable force. We’ve given Governor Otti a chance to perform, and in the next election, we’re going to judge him based on his performance.
It will be shameful if APC is here in Abia, and somebody will come and tell us that he is from LP.
Are you then echoing what somebody who called himself the 6th ranking person in Nigeria said about APC capturing Abia in 2027?
That person who described himself as No. 6 is empty No. 6. He is not a politician, though he is the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. He does not own the party, and he is not a party man. I am speaking to you as a party man. I am neither in government nor in the House of Representatives, but I am a party man. A party man is different from being a member of the House of Representatives, because when the time comes, that party man may decide not to give nomination to the member of House of Representatives or any arm of government for that matter.
Talking about APC, are you looking at the No. 1 seat in Abia, or are you also looking at other elective positions such as Reps and Senate, especially Abia Central and Ikwuano-Umuahia federal constituency?
My position which I have continued to emphasize is that any body who is today holding elective position, and performs creditably well, no matter the political party he belongs to, will be recommended by me for re-election. I am talking about performance, but if you want to hoodwink us, we’ll now show you that we’re in power in Abia state, and in Nigeria as a whole. We’ve left Abia for Otti, and not for LP.
The deputy speaker of House of Representatives boasted recently that APC will rule Abia come 2027. Are you going to convince Otti to defect to APC?
I am not going to convince Otti to defect to APC, but will congratulate him if he does well as governor of Abia state. He will convince himself to join APC.
Prince B. B. Apugo： Blame the state governors for the hardship in the country.
Have you been able to reconcile the factions of APC in Abia state, led by Chief Ikechi Emenike, and the other one by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, ahead of 2027?
You should not worry about the factions which you say exist in Abia APC: But let me tell you that I don’t want you to mention Ikechi Emenike’s name here. Like I keep saying, I registered him in APC. He has benefitted a lot from the party. His wife served as an ambassador. I have never asked to be made anything. I have never done one contract as a member of APC. Right from Obasanjo’s regime till date, I have never done one contract in the whole of Nigeria. And coming to Abia state, I don’t even know the road leading to Government House, here in Umuahia, not to talk about doing any contract here. They have not given me even a parcel of land. This is why today I am in a position to talk to anybody from head to toe. I am not interested in making money from politics. My major interest from day one when I started as constituency chairman, LG chairman, deputy state chairman NPN Imo state, as member of NEC of NPN, which I carried over to NRC, PDP and other parties, has been the development of this place, which I have not seen, but I still maintain that Alex Otti will develop this state. He cannot come to me tomorrow to say he is sorry for not being able to develop Abia state. He has to do something that will put his name in the Book of Records. He has to leave a legacy.
Nigerians are going through untold hardship under President Tinubu. What’s your position on this?
It is only enemies of the country that can say Nigerians are going through hardship under Tinubu. What about your governors？ No governor can tell me that he has not been receiving his monthly allocation from the federation account. And when these governors squander their allocations without developing their respective states, you say Tinubu is the problem. Why is it that some people are blaming APC/Tinubu for the hardship in the land? Neither APC nor Tinubu is your problem; your problem lies with the governor of your state. For instance, throughput the period of Orji Uzor Kalu, T. A. Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu, nothing was built here in Abia. Rather, they sold all the things the colonial masters and First Republic leaders put on the ground here.
Tinubu is the President of Nigeria, and he has enormous powers conferred on him by the constitution, and that’s why many people look up to him to provide solutions to the socio-economic problems in the land. Is that not correct?
What else do you want the President to do for you？ I say your governors receive their monthly allocations, so hold them responsible for the hardship in the land.
One is not talking about monthly allocations to the states, which is a statutory matter, but issues like the removal of oil subsidy which is partly responsible for the ongoing hardship in the land. How do you react to this？
Does the President share the proceeds from the removal of oil subsidy among APC members？ The answer is No. The proceeds from the removal of oil subsidy is shared among the states of the federation and FCT. Interestingly, the states are getting more money than they did yesterday. So, you should be able to hold your governors accountable instead of heaping the blames on the president. Take for instance the issue of agricultural revolution which the then Okpara regime championed in the defunct Eastern Region, you ask yourself why can’t the governors of the five South East states emulate Dr. Okpara in terms of making agriculture the mainstay of the zone’s economy.
Are you saying the people should be happy with the economic policies of the Tinubu administration?
I am not in government. I am talking as a party man. My party is APC. APC is not government of Nigeria. Tinubu is president of Nigeria because you people voted for him. Here in Abia, the hope we have is that we have a new face in government, and that new face is Alex Otti.
How do you react to the boasting by the new leadership of the PDP in the state that PDP will return to power in the state in 2027?
Let me throw the question back to you. Will you vote for any PDP person in Abia again after seeing how the successive PDP govts in Abia state looted the treasury for solid 24 years of their being in power here.
Do you believe that the financial autonomy given to the local govt will help bring about development to the rural areas?
I believe so, but the autonomy given to the local councils will only be complete when you allow INEC to conduct council pools instead of the respective states’ independent electoral commissions as we have them today.
