Choice of ministerial slot tears Enugu APC apart

By The Citizen

Things are no longer at east in the fold of All Progressives Congress in Enugu State after reports emerged on Friday that the party's national vice chairman, South East, Emma Eneukwu, allegedly slapped the governorship candidate in the just concluded elections, Barr Okey Ezea over disagreement on the state's ministerial slot in Gen. Muhammadu Buhari's incoming administration.

TheCitizen gathered that the ugly incident reportedly took place in Abuja on Thursday, during a meeting of South East APC leaders at the Imo State Governor's Lodge where the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha hosted them.

It was gathered that the closed-door meeting was chaired by Okorocha, while Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen. J. O. J. Okoloagu (rtd.), and others were in attendance.

Ezea disclosed the development in a text message that was forwarded to journalists in Enugu on Friday.

Apparently, the meeting discussed the sharing of key appointments, as Ezea, in the SMS, said Eneukwu slapped him because he (Ezea) told the South East leaders that Nsukka zone, where he hailed from, should produce the minister.

He accused Eneukwu, who is from Udi, Enugu West Senatorial Zone, of wanting the ministerial slot for himself and trying to actualise the ambition through violence.

The text message reads, 'Emma Eneukwu slapped me today because I told South East leaders that Nsukka has not been minister since 1999.

'He did this before Rochas, Ngige, Izunaso, J. O. J, Gen. Eze, Ucha etc.

'I just said the truth and requested justice and equity in the affairs of our party and Enugu State.

'Emma (Eneukwu) wants to be minister by violence. Emma from Udi LGA which has minister since 2007 including the incumbent, Chinedu Nebo.

'We must fight injustice and oppression. APC is change.'