Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA), representing Abia South senatorial zone, has refuted media report that he was shot dead in Abia, dismissing the said report as “fake news and damn lie.”
The former Senate Minority Leader who while fielding questions from newsmen in Umuahia where he attended the burial of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, said there was no element of truth in the said report.
He urged members of the public to discountenance the fictitious story that only existed in the imagination of purveyors.
The former Deputy Governor who said he was hale and hearty recalled that the same online news platform that published the fake news had always published misleading reports about him probably to get undue attention.
“I want all Nigerians to know that this is the second time that particular news site called Igbo Times has come out with this type of fake news about my death.
“So, let everybody see everything that comes from Igbo Times as nothing but lies and lies, damn lies!”
Senator Abaribe said that the expectations of his demise were highly exaggerated, while cautioning the press against mischievous reports.
Responding to the exit of Price Ogbulafor, Senator Abaribe said Abia had lost another great asset and an amiable patriot.
The Senator described the former PDP chieftain as a peace maker who never quarreled with anybody.
“We are here because we came to mourn our friend, brother and compatriot.
“He was always a man of peace – somebody who never had any bone of hatred in his body. He related with everybody, very peacefully, and never at anytime, had personal issues with anybody.
“If he had disagreement, it was political, and after that, he would still embrace you as a friend,” Abaribe lamented.
Speaking also in an interview, Senator Chris Adighighje who is Ogbulafor’s kinsman said he was too devastated and yet to recover from the trauma of the death of the deceased who he described as his younger brother.
Senator Adighighje who said Ogbulafor was his younger brother said his heart was still very heavy for losing a very close kin.
“The death of Ogbulafor was a tragedy for me! By rule of the game, he was the one to take charge when I go because he was my younger one.
“So, I feel so bad and sad talking about his exit. Something in me has gone! I have lost somebody so dear to me. My heart is very heavy,” Adighighje mourned.
He said they needed much of God’s grace to overcome the shock and reality of Ogbulafor’s demise.
