The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial Zone at the National Assembly, Senator T. A. Orji, led notable Abia leaders including founding fathers, former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe rtd, among others, to celebrate one of Abia’s founding fathers, Ezeogo (Dr) Anagha Ezikpe, as he marked his 90th Birthday earlier today in Abiriba, Ohafia LGA.
Speaking during the colorful ceremony held at the country home of Pa Ezikpe, Nymph Castle, Governor Ikpeazu expressed appreciation to God for blessing the nonagenarian with long life, describing him as his political father and mentor whose words of advice and encouragement have helped him to navigate through the most turbulent periods of his governorship.
“You have been a very strong advocate of equity and justice; you have played very critical roles in stabilizing the state under my watch and even before then. Nobody in this state questions your integrity and if you were not here in 2014 Abia would probably have burnt. You are a good role model for all of us who love this state, and the calibre of men and women who turned up to honor you today attests to that”, he said.
In his own remarks, Senator T. A. Orji described Ezeogo Anagha Ezikpe as a man of impeccable character and great counsel whose guidance helped him to succeed as Governor of the state. He said: “when we had challenges on how to navigate the booby traps of transition from my administration to the current one, I sought the advice of Dr Ezikpe, as a founding father and reliable man, he promptly guided us on the need to ensure equity as enshrined in Abia Charter of Equity and today we have peace in the state because we followed his advice”.
Speaking earlier, former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe rtd, called on Abians to emulate the sterling qualities of Dr Ezikpe whose integrity and sense of justice are worth celebrating and prayed God to grant the celebrant many more years on earth.
Other dignitaries at the event include the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, PhD, other living founding fathers of Abia State led by Sir Chikezie Nwachukwu, member representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency, Hon Prestige Ossy, member representing Aba Central State Constituency, Hon. Abraham Oba, Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and his counterpart in Lands and Survey, Barr Suleiman Ukandu, Enachioken-in-Council led by Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Prof Mkpa A. Mkpa, Prof Anya O. Anya, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Dr Okafor Mang Lekwauwa, Dr Jona Ezikpe, Chief Mba Ukariwo, members of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Abia State, Permanent Secretaries, captains of industry among others.
