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| Barrister Ejikeme Ugwu. |
A faction within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, known as the Enugu North APC Frontiers, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address what it described as a long-standing injustice against the Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
Their plea comes ahead of President Tinubu’s decision on a replacement for the recently resigned minister, Uche Nnaji.
Nnaji stepped down from his position last week following allegations of certificate forgery.
The Enugu North APC Frontiers are now urging the President to appoint someone from the zone as Nnaji’s successor.
This demand was contained in a letter to the President, signed by Barrister Ejikeme Ugwu, National Convener of Enugu North APC Frontiers, and Sydney Eze, the group’s National Secretary.
In the letter, the group outlined the various appointments that had been allocated to different parts of Enugu State, lamenting that no individual from Enugu North had ever been appointed as a minister since 1999.
The group stated that the purpose of the letter was to draw the President’s attention to “the long cry of the good people of Enugu North senatorial zone consisting of over fifty two percent (52%) of the entire population of Enugu State over the non-appointment of our indigene into the Federal Executive Council since 1999 to date, i.e., since this democratic dispensation.”
According to data provided by the group, Enugu West has held four ministerial positions and Enugu East three, while Enugu North has yet to produce any minister since the return of democracy in 1999.
“This is a clear manifestation of marginalisation and lack of fairness and justice in Enugu State since this democratic era,” the statement read.
“Your Excellency, in furtherance to fairness and equity in Enugu State, we from Enugu North, as one of the three Senatorial Districts of Enugu State, and over half the population of the state, are asking for inclusiveness to also have the opportunity to serve for the first time as a Minister in the Federal Executive Council and other executive leadership positions at the federal level,” the group added.
The statement also noted that between 2015 and 2023, “no person from Enugu North Senatorial Zone served in executive capacity save General Eze, who was ambassador and late Senator Ayogu Eze, who was appointed commissioner RAMFAC May 2023.”
The APC group presented a breakdown of chairmanship and executive positions distributed among the senatorial zones from 2015 to date, showing that Enugu West had 22, Enugu East had 10, and Enugu North also had 10, ranking lowest overall.
The group told the President that Enugu North was blessed with hardworking, honest, and God-fearing people. It added that the zone was rich in talent, with professionals and technocrats who had excelled in various fields and could serve as ministers, board heads, or parastatal leaders to help drive the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are confident that such persons will discharge their duties unblemished,” it stated.
“We can safely assert, Sir, that Enugu North, having nurtured the APC in Enugu State so far, with her large population, can produce for the State, someone with passion to propel and build a strong and virile party in the state,” the group wrote.
“Your Excellency, our people have borne the grief of marginalisation and deprivation with dignified patience and non-violent candour, which goes a long way to showcase that we are accommodating, patient and progressive,” the statement continued.
“Your Excellency, we respectfully pray that you consider and appoint one of our eminently qualified indigenes to represent Enugu state in the Federal Executive Council and therefore break this jinx and renew the hope of the good people of Enugu North, as history beckons you.
“Please, sir, do consider other qualified and eminent Enugu North indigenes to serve in other capacities in your government,” the letter appealed.
The group further assured the President of its unwavering support and pledged that “our people will give you and our great party the highest votes come 2027.”
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