Party leaders, activists and civil society organisations (CSOs) have picked up the gauntlet in Plateau and Cross River states to demand the replacement of two ministers from the states that resigned/ suspended from their offices.
At different fora, the stakeholders asked President Bola Tinubu to appoint a replacement for Senator Simon Lalong, who resigned from the cabinet as minister of labour and employment to return to the Senate, and Betta Edu, who was suspended as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation over the alleged diversion of over N585 million ($640,000; £500,000) of public money into a personal bank account.
In Plateau State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nde Jonathan Ishaku, resigned from the party, citing the state’s exclusion from Tinubu’s cabinet for his action.
Ishaku announced the decision in a letter titled “Letter of Resignation” dated September 6, 2024, addressed to the Gwamlar Unit chairman in Shiwer-Seri Federal Ward (and Shiwer State Ward) in the Kanke local government area.
In Cross River State, the actors differ on the fate of Edu. While some wanted her recalled, others kicked, insisting that the report on her probe was not ready.
In the letter, which was made available to LEADERSHIP Sunday in Jos, the state capital, Ishaku said, “I am particularly disappointed that eight months after Senator Simon Lalong resigned from the Federal Executive Council (EXCO) to assume his mandate as a senator, the ministerial slot for Plateau State has been left indefinitely vacant.”
The veteran journalist and essayist argued that “this is contrary to the Constitution of Nigeria 147(3), which stipulates that there must be at least one cabinet member from each of the 36 states in Nigeria.” He asserted that the current administration operates without the participation of Plateau State.
“By extension, it means as a party member, I do not count in the government and I can no longer continue to live the illusion. In my opinion, this is a slight on the people and members of the party in the state,” he said.
Similarly, Lalong, a former governor of the state who now represents Plateau South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has called for the appointment of a minister from the state to fill the gap his exit created in FEC.
At the APC stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s secretariat, Kalwa House Jos, Lalong lamented that denying the state its constitutional ministerial slot for eight months was unfair.
He said, “It is not fair that Plateau State remained for eight months without a minister. I said that and communicated to Mr President that it is not fair.”
Also, the chairman of the APC in the state, Hon Rufus Bature, who addressed the supporters at the meeting, said, “Let me, for the umpteenth time, reiterate our call for the appointment of a minister from Plateau State.”
In the same vein, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Plateau State, Prof Patrick Dakum, called on President Tinubu to appoint a minister from the state for equity and justice.
Dakum who made the call during a chat with LEADERSHIP Sunday in Jos, lamented that the president’s delay in appointing a new minister to fill in the gap created by Lalong’s exit was a disservice to the Plateau people that must be remedied immediately.
According to him, it’s unfair to deny Plateau’s participation in the Federal Executive Council for over eight months.
Also, the APC Like-Minds urged Tinubu to appoint a minister from the state to represent them.
The group’s leader, Hon Isa Maimadara, in a press statement issued in Jos, said the void had left Plateau without a representation in the Federal Executive Council despite the state’s contribution to the president’s electoral victory.
On its part, the Coalition of Indigenous Youth Nationalities in Plateau State demanded for a replacement for Lalong.
The group’s leader, Comrade Paul Dekete, made the call at a press conference in Jos.
According to him, Plateau not having a minister in FEC was a disservice to the good of the state.
In Cross River State, the executive director of Africa Dignity Foundation/chairman of Cross River State Civil Society Network, Benedict Usang called for the reinstatement of Edu.
Usang said Edu was among the APC faithful who worked assiduously towards the emergence of President Tinubu.
He said, “The federal government should immediately reinstate Edu. President Tinubu should make the decision to fill that vacuum. He should be firm in making a decision to reinstate Edu since she had been the second minister flying the flag of Cross River State at the national level.
“Three months is enough for the federal government to make a decision whether to drop Edu and replace her with another Cross Riverian or take her to another ministry if need be.
“In my estimation, Betta Edu worked so hard risking her life for the party during electioneering that ushered in the president,” he said.
But human rights lawyer, anti-corruption crusader and former special assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution, Chief Obono Obla, said the suspension of Betta was not strange.
He said that in line with the public service rule, once an official is suspended based on any allegations levelled against him or her, the official must wait until he or she is cleared of such allegations.
“She was suspended pending investigation, which is the normal thing to be done administratively,” he said.
Obla stated that when a public officer is accused of wrongdoing, the officer would be placed on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
He urged those in support of the former minister to wait for the outcome of the investigation.
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