Abaribe, a true legislator who exemplifies what a legislator is globally — Obi
•Hails autobiography, ‘Made in Aba’
The Vice Presidential Candidate ofthe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, hascongratulated the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District,Enyinnaya Abaribe, as he launched his autobiography, ‘Made in Aba’.
The book launch which was held onMonday at Musa Yar’Adua Centre Abuja, witnessed a congregation of high profilepeople from different walks of life.
Giving his opening remark, Obistated that he was at the ceremony on dual capacities.
He said: “I am here today as therepresentative of the Presidential Candidate of the PDP in the last elections,Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and then, in my own capacity as the Chairman of theoccasion.
“I am even more honoured to chairthis event because of the personality involved, His Excellency DistinguishedSenator Enyinnaya Abaribe.”
Obi described Abaribe as a true legislatorwho exemplifies what a legislator is globally: “a lawmaker, a law preacher anda law defender.”
Obi said: “Enyinnaya Abaribe iscourageous in speaking out when there is injustice, falsehood, marginalizationand speaking truth to power, especially in a country where it is a graveoffence to do so.”
Obi said he knows how it feels to bepersecuted for speaking the truth.
“I know this myself because I knowwhat I go through when I speak out against the ills of government, especiallythe financial recklessness and political irresponsibility that has pervadedevery part of our nation.
“Even this morning, in a conference,I disagreed with a position by another presenter who quoted NBS [Nigeria Burueaof Statistics] saying that the poverty line in Nigeria is estimated at N137,430per person per year, therefore those who earn more than that are consideredsufficient.
“We should, however, draw our ownpoverty line from the global standard of less than$1.90 per day, also usedother developing countries. By our official exchange rate, the global povertyline is about N900 per person per day, even though I peg it at N1000 andN30,000 per person per month.”
Obi urged the government toimplement measures that will combat the increasing poverty in the country,while calling on the leaders to speak out against the ills of the societyespecially against insecurity, banditry, increasing poverty, waste ingovernance.
