Nsukka ‘deserves’ Enugu’s ministerial slot

The Nsukka Platform Asaba, a socio-cultural organisation, has called on President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to appoint an indigene of Nsukka to represent Enugu state in his cabinet.

The group of professionals resident in Asaba said in a statement in Asaba on Tuesday that the Enugu north senatorial zone should produce a minister in the incoming administration.

The group said the area had not produced a minister since the country’s return to democracy in 1999.

The statement signed by the chairman of the organisation and its secretary, Pius Ike and Leo Abonyi respectively, said the five ministers appointed from the state since then hailed from Enugu east and Enugu west senatorial zones.

“It is on record that since 1999 when the country returned to civilian rule, the people of Nsukka in Enugu State have not produced a single minister.

“All the ministers appointed from the state by the past administrations and the present one hail from Enugu East and Enugu West senatorial zones,” it said.

It listed the ministers as Frank Nweke Jnr. and Bath Nnaji from Enugu east and Dubem Onyia, Fidelia Njeze and Chinedu Nebo from Enugu west.

It noted that the constitution provided that every state in the federation was entitled to a ministerial slot in reflection of the federal character principle.

“It then becomes imperative that Buhari should endeavour to uphold this constitutional provision in choosing ministers from every state, while insisting on credibility and competence,” it added.

The Nsukka Platform Asaba also commended the president-elect for insisting on appointing loyal APC members with technical competence and integrity into his cabinet.

The group noted that the disposition of the president-elect showed that he was determined to bring about the much-desired sanity and change in governance in the country.

It said that Buhari’s pronouncement had given Nigerians hope that he was poised to fulfil his promise of fighting corruption.

“It is expected that the APC government should ensure that every part of a given state is given a sense of belonging in ministerial appointments,” the group said.

The association further condemned the reported physical attack on the APC gubernatorial candidate in the last general election in Enugu state, Okey Ezea (pictured), by another chieftain of the party.

Ezea, who hails from Nsukka, was reportedly attacked when he demanded that the zone be allowed to produce the next minister for the state to ensure equity.