MINISTERIAL LIST TEARS ABIA PDP APART
The list of ministerial nominees from the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party sent to the Presidency by the PDP National Working Committee is already generating bad blood in the state.
Party stalwarts in the state are disenchanted that the list is skewed against chieftains of the party from other senatorial zones in the state while they alleged that Governor Theodore Orji only favoured certain people from his Abia Central Senatorial zone, which has already produced the governor.
The growing anger, according to Saturday Sun source is from Abia North and Abia South senatorial zones.
The list sent to the Presidency, according to Saturday Sun source include, former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Mr. Chinedu Orji (Governor's son), and Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Chairman of the PDP, all from Abia Central.
In Abia North the names of Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa were equally forwarded while in Abia South, the names of the current Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, former Senate President, Adolph Wabara and Honourable Blessing Azoro also made the list.
According to Saturday Sun source, PDP faithful in Abia North are the most hit, as they are complaining that the list was done in bad faith and in total disregard to the political tendencies in the state.
'Their anger was that since the governor came from the central zone, it is only fair that they get the ministerial slot since Abia South has the Deputy Governor. They also frowned at the frequent nomination of former Transport Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe.
'For instance, if somebody like Onyema Ugochukwu scaled the screening hurdle, what it means is that Ugochukwu from Umuahia North Local Government as the state governor would be minister. That would be the height of injustice for both governor and minister to come from the same local government.'
Joining the fray of concerned Abians, a group, Abia Equity Forum on Thursday in Abuja warned that the Senators must insist that justice be done on the matter and to employ every available constitutional means including blocking their confirmation in the Senate to right the wrong.
Senators and the members of the House of Representatives from the zones have come under serious pressure not to approve the nomination by blocking the confirmation of any nominee that does not conform to the geo-political reality in the state.