Amidst intensive lobbying for ministerial appointments, the All Progressives Congress Legacy Group in Cross River State wants President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be circumspect to avoid bringing on board imposter nominee from the state.
The group which is a congregation of founding and older members of the APC was part of the three defunct political parties-ACN, CPC, ANPP- that merged in 2013 to form APC, or had joined the party shortly before the 2015 elections.
In Cross River, there is fear that those who defected from the PDP along with immediate past governor, Prof Ben Ayade in 2021, had hijacked the party and had made it difficult for the old party members to benefit whenever opportunities came for spoils of political offices were to be shared.
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Members of the group led by Mr Sampson Egom observed that it was important for the APC and Tinubu to be properly guided before he makes the choice of his minister from Cross River.
In a statement on Friday, the group said “let the party reward and promote this silent majority who do not have political godfathers and godmothers.”
Their action is coming amidst speculations that one of the persons who may be considered for the appointment is the National APC women leader, Dr Betta Edu.
A regional newspaper had recently tipped Edu among those that may be on the list of ministerial nominees.
But the group reasoned that it would be unfair for Edu to be part of those considered for the ministerial appointment.
“We have a lot of committed, dedicated and competent party members who are qualified to be appointment ministers. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should look at all of them, evaluate them fairly and carefully before selecting one of them.
“He should look at their political antecedents and adjudge which of them will give the people of the state a good representation. The person must be someone who truly know the state well and who can add value to his administration.”
In addressing the issue of Edu’s indigenship, the legacy group said “at our level of national development and democracy in Nigeria, where somebody comes is still considered as something to be taken into consideration when appointments are made. Dr Betta is from Anambra State but married to someone from Cross River State.
“The husband is from Abi Local Government Area where the member representing Abi/Yakurr federal constituency is from. Would her appointment not disturb the political apple card in that constituency?
“It will certainly be. A minister and a member of the House of Representatives should all not come from the same local government area. It does not engender inclusiveness and sense of belonging among people from that area. It is a poisoned chalice that will promote disharmony and discord.”
Besides, the group said that Edu never won her husband’s Adadama ward in its entirety as usually claimed.
According to the group, Edu only managed to win her ward for the President, while the PDP won in the ward during the Senate and House of Representatives elections, which, incidentally, were held on the same day.
Scores recorded during the elections, according to the group, are as follows: Presidential: APC- 510, PDP- 480, LP- 186. For the senate election, Senate: APC- 536, PDP 597, LP-54. For the House of Reps election, the result was as follows: APC- 528, PDP 605, LP-64
“So, from this result, is there anything to show that Dr Betta Edu delivered the Adadama ward fully to the APC as she has been claiming everywhere? If she is to be considered, maybe she can be given a slot in Anambra State, but certainly not a slot that is meant for Cross River,” the group added.
