Former Rights Commissioner Backs Professor Anwuka's Ministerial Nomination
A former Federal Commissioner of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and an erstwhile member of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and restoration of peace in Northern Nigeria (PCCDR ) Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko has backed President Muhammadu Buhari on his nomination for ministerial slot to represent Imo State of former Vice Chancellor of Imo State University Professor Anthony ANWUKAH.
Besides, the former Human Rights Commissioner who hails from Imo State has dismissed as cheap blackmail and highly unsubstantiated the allegations being bandied about by a Senator Representing Okigwe Zone in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator Athan alleging that Professor ANWUKAH does not merit the nomination on the ground of an extant indictment by virtue of a White Paper published and approved in 2013 by the governor of Imo State under the then administration of Chief Ikeji Ohakim. Onwubiko said the Indictment and the entire White Paper being cited remains a nullity by virtue of its annulment by a competent judicial forum.
Comrade Onwubiko who backed the choice of Professor ANWUKAH as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as made by President Muhammadu Buhari said that the nominee should be confirmed without hitches given his rich background as an acclaimed and an erudite Professor of Education who pragmatically changed the fortunes of the Imo State University and raised the revenue profile of the institution to a phenomenal heights even as he drove the academic institution under his then administration in Imo State to a greater height academically which placed the school as one of the most respected and highly rated amongst the state government owned universities in Nigeria. He expressed optimism that as a Federal cabinet minister Nigeria will gain a lot from the nominee's rich pedigree.
The former National Human Rights Commissioner said that the petitioner who purportedly originated the plethora of petitions have issues of disagreement with the Imo State governor who recommended Professor ANWUKAH for appointment and that the petitioner was simply engaging in a transfer of aggression to the ministerial nominee and so the intention behind the writing and presentation of the petition in reference is suspect and malicious and therefore should be consigned to the dustbins of history.
"Professor ANWUKA has no indictment hanging on his neck and the so called White Paper in which it is claimed that he was indicted was quashed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the matter between incorporated Trustees of Every Child Educational Advancement Foundation and Imo State governor, the Attorney General of Imo State as defendants. My humble advice is that this well educated patriot from Imo State be confirmed so he can provide dedicated services to our fatherland Nigeria and with abiding loyalty on Mr President ".