A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia, Prof Phillips Nto, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint an indigene of the state as Minister. This appointment is to replace Hon Nkiriuka Onyechiocha, who resigned more than six months ago. The delay in appointing a replacement has raised concerns about Abia's status in the Federal Executive Council.
Prof Nto, a former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Abia, made this appeal while receiving APC stakeholders from Ututu. He argued that appointing an Abia indigene as Minister would enable the APC to campaign more vigorously for President Tinubu's reelection. According to him, states like Oyo and Bauchi had their ministerial slots filled almost immediately after their ministers resigned, unlike Abia.
Prof Nto expressed concerns that the delay in appointing an Abia indigene as Minister has put APC members in the state in a difficult position. They are now overburdened with answering questions from opposition parties about why President Tinubu has not made the appointment. He believes that appointing an Abia person as Minister would give the state a sense of belonging and make the APC's job easier.
The APC chieftain appealed to President Tinubu to appoint anyone of his choice to the position, even if there was a disagreement among stakeholders. He expressed confidence in the APC's campaign materials, citing the achievements of the government in the last three years. According to him, the removal of fuel subsidy has made more money available for developmental initiatives.
Prof Nto highlighted some of President Tinubu's achievements, including the appointment of an Igbo man as a service chief, a position that had eluded the Igbo people for eight years. He also noted that the road network in the southeast is being rehabilitated. These achievements, he believes, make the APC's campaign for Tinubu's reelection stronger.
The delay in appointing an Abia indigene as Minister has sparked concerns about the state's representation in the Federal Executive Council. Prof Nto's appeal to President Tinubu is seen as a move to strengthen the APC's position in Abia and ensure the state's interests are represented at the federal level.
As the APC prepares for the upcoming elections, the party is focusing on its achievements and campaign materials. Prof Nto's call for an Abia indigene to be appointed as Minister is part of this effort to ensure the party's success in the state and at the national level.
Key points
- APC chieftain Prof Phillips Nto urges President Tinubu to appoint an Abia indigene as Minister.
- The delay in appointing a replacement for Hon Nkiriuka Onyechiocha has raised concerns about Abia's status in the Federal Executive Council.
- Appointing an Abia indigene as Minister would make the APC's job easier and strengthen its position in the state.
