By Emeh James Anyalekwa
Mr. Demian Igbokwe, Senior Aide to Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, Ministerial designate for Abia State, has praised Nigerians, particularly young progressives, for their outpouring of solidarity to his principal following his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the oil magnate is ready to serve Nigeria in any capacity as Minister in the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
Igbokwe stated this while fielding questions from our correspondent at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, on Monday, in reaction to media reports (NOT IGBERE TV) that Dr. Ogah has been tipped by President Buhari to head the Petroleum Ministry.
There’s been a controversial report that President Muhammadu Buhari had pen down Uchechukwu Ogah as Minister for Petroleum, as a way of “compensating” the Igbos for missing out in other top positions in the country, including the National Assembly.
Contrary to the said report, Igbokwe revealed that his principal is at the moment more concerned in mapping out strategies to making unequalled contribution to the development of the country than unnecessary tussle for ‘juicy’ portfolios, insisting that all portfolios are equal, “what matters is the character of the person in-charge.”
Igbere TV reports that President Buhari had submitted a list of 43 ministerial nominees, which was read at the Senate plenary last Tuesday. Ogah, the 2019 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Abia was the first nominee to be screened on Wednesday.
Igbere TV learnt that the Presidency said Ogah brought fresh air to the APC, working with other leaders and stakeholders of the party in the State, which made the Party perform creditably well during the last general elections in Abia, hence, his nomination as Minister.
A Presidency source, who craved anonymity, told Igbere TV that leaders of the APC were not particularly happy with the performance of the party outside Abia North — where Ogah hail from.
“The National Chairman of the Party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top Leaders were not happy with the poor outing of the APC in Abia Central and South Senatorial Districts in the last general election”, the source stated.
“For that singular reason alone, the President narrowed down his search to Abia North and handpicked the minister designate (Uche Ogah), out of three nominees, due to his antecedents and pedigree”.
Speaking with Igbere TV, Mr. Igbokwe said the President rejected other nominees and picked Uche Ogah out of the three nominees from Abia, based on his sincerity in making the state chapter of the APC grow.
He called on Nigerians, particularly the people of Abia to join hands to see that the Minister designate succeeds, saying, “electioneering is over, let’s not overheat the polity.”
Igbokwe said: “This is not the time to sow a seed of discord between the incoming Minister and his father (President Buhari) by planting unsubstantiated stories in the media. Rather, let us join hands with President Buhari and the incoming Minister to take the country to the Next Level.
“We have a President who does not give ears to gossips and attention seekers. That is why they failed when they tried stopping the President from nominating our dear son as Minister.
“It is on record that Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah delivered the APC in the state and won 14 out of the 17 Local Governments. He won majority votes at all the Polling Units in Abia including that of the Government House, Umuahia where staff of the state government voted massively for APC/Uche Ogah only for the results to be altered by the PDP in connivance with compromised INEC and security agents.
While insisting that the Minister designate cannot be distracted by any media propaganda, Igbokwe added that “President Buhari knows Dr. Uche Ogah better than anyone else”, and should be allowed to make his choice of Ministry for the Abia born politician.
“Dr. Uche Ogah can never be distracted by cheap propagandas and blackmail. He remains committed to the APC, the vision of the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the development of Nigeria at large.
“The President knows what is right and will position our dear son, philanthropist, businessman and oil magnate in the right Ministry he may deem fit judging by his antecedents and pedigree as a capitalist”, Ogah’s aide concluded.
