Prof. Phillips Nto, a senior All Progressives Congress (APC) figure in Abia State and former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint an Abia indigene to the Federal Executive Council after the resignation of Hon. Nkiriuka Onyechiocha more than six months ago.
Speaking to APC stakeholders in Ututu, Nto said the absence of a replacement minister has raised questions about Abia’s standing within the federal cabinet. “I really don’t know what is responsible for the delay, but I believe that Mr. President should move swiftly to address the issue and give Abia people a sense of belonging,” he said.
He pointed out that states such as Oyo and Bauchi had new ministers named almost immediately after resignations, while Abia’s vacancy remains unresolved. “States whose ministers resigned from the cabinet like Oyo and Bauchi had their replacements appointed almost immediately while that of Abia is still lingering,” Nto observed.
According to the former finance commissioner, APC members in the state are now overburdened by opposition questions over why Tinubu has not appointed an Abia indigene to a ministerial post. “Mr. President will make our job easier if he appoints an Abia person a minister so that we could also be part of the administration,” he added.
Nto, who has also been a senatorial aspirant for the APC, said he would accept any candidate the president chooses, assuming there is disagreement among stakeholders. He reminded attendees that the party has ample campaign material for Tinubu’s re‑election, citing the government’s achievements over the last three years.
He highlighted the removal of the fuel subsidy as freeing up funds for development at both federal and state levels, and noted that under Tinubu an Igbo man has been appointed as a service chief—a position that had been vacant for eight years—while road networks in the southeast are being rehabilitated.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
