A pro-Bola Ahmed Tinubu support group, South-East Progressives Front has lashed out at the Minister of Innovation, Science and technology, Chief Uche Nnaji over his opposition to the appointment of Dr Ben Nwoye as Chief of Staff to the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Burkar Dalori.
Nnaji had in a letter he personally signed expressed stiff opposition to Nwoye’s appointment, asking that it be withdrawn.
But in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, Dr. Donald Otuonye, who is the National Coordinator, Southeast Progressives Front, a grassroots organisation that mobilised support for the Tinubu presidency across the five states in Southeast, said it was unthinkable that a member of the Federal cabinet would stoop so low to pry into the choice of an aide by a party official.
He said the implication was that Nnaji had no focus and lacked the requisite initiative that would align with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Otuoye said it was weird and quite disappointing that “while other ministers are busy making waves and delivering on their mandates, the science and technology minister is busying himself over who will be chief of staff to the deputy national chairman of our party.”
“It goes without question that he lacks the capacity to head the very important science and tech ministry, which should be at the front-burner rolling out ideas that would push our youths out of poverty through job creation chains.
“May we ask Minister Nnaji- how many votes did President Bola Ahmed Tinubu poll in his ward, since he claims to have worked for the party during the election?
“We know so well how he funds and works for the PDP, a party where his brother is currently a serving member of the House of Representatives. Nnaji is more PDP than any other person and as such has no moral right to point fingers at any other person.
“Dr. Ben Nwoye has paid his dues in our party right from when he served as the pioneer chairman of the party in Enugu State, even at a time many were not keen on joining the party. He ran the party with his personal resources when the likes of Nnaji were at their comfort zones.
“It is also on record that he donated his personal residence as an office for the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation, in addition to branded vehicles, posters and banners and billboards he mounted in the state.
“There is, therefore, no doubt that the appointment given to Nwoye is a reward for his total commitment to the growth of the party,” Dr Otuonye further revealed.
Otuonye commended the APC Deputy National Chairman, Dalori “for fishing out one of the most committed members of our party in Enugu State, in the person of Dr. Ben Nwoye and rewarding his sacrifices to the party.”
He advised Nnaji to focus on his job as minister or resign if he has nothing to contribute to the success of the Tinubu administration.
“The President Tinubu administration is in a hurry to bring the much needed reform in the country.
“So this is not a time for any cabinet member to chase after frivolities; good enough the President has said there will be periodic review of performance, so we will wait to see what those chasing shadows will present as their scorecard,” he added.
