By Saminu Ibrahim
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Monday commended the senate minority leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe for writing the story of his life, his people and that of Nigeria as captured in his new book.
According to Ikpeazu “if you don’t write your story, other people will write it in a very distorted way”
Governor Ikpeazu also fired back at Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West), for calling him a drunkard.
The Abia governor spoke at the launch of a book authored by Abariba and titled: ‘Made in Aba’, held at the Yar’ Adua centre in Abuja.
Ikpeazu, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the book launch praised Abaribe for writing the book which according to him, is all about resilience and can do spirit of the Aba people in particular and Ndigbo in general
“It is good that the Senate Minority Leader, wrote the story of his life, his people and that of Nigeria as captured in the book because if you don’t write your story, other people will write it in a very distorted way”, he said.
Reacting to allegation by Senator Smart Adeyemi at the book launch Ikpeazu said he doesn’t drink at all, let alone, being a drunkard.
“I don’t drink at all and I don’t begrudge those who drink, making me to wonder what prompted the allegation.
“Leadership demands decorum and high sense of responsibility, the very reason why those privileged to have the calling by virtue of occupying position of leadership must be cautious in what they say or do.
“I’m not planning to take up the person who made the reckless allegation because in the words of Chinua Achebe, ‘a man whose cloth was taken at the River Bank by a mad man needs to be cautious by not running naked after the mad in order not to create a scenario of not knowing who is mad between the two of them by onlookers”, he said .
Also speaking, chairman of the occasion, Mr Peter Obi, said Abaribe represents what a legend should be globally by speaking truth to power at all times.
Other dignitaries at the book launch were the Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Robert Ajayi Borroffice ( APC Ondo North) who represented the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, former Senate President, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim among others.
