From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has accused Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu of being responsible for the marginalisation of Igbo.
Governor Okorocha who also doubles as chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum chided the minister for not living up to his expectations in attracting democratic dividends to the party in Ebonyi State.
Okorocha’s reaction was sequel to the complaints by stakeholders in the state during a familiarisation visit.
The stakeholders complained that they were being schemed out from the employment and empowerment programmes of the Federal Government and inability to pay the rent of the party’s secretariat.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Ugonna Ozurigbo, the governor noted that it was shocking and unbearable that Ebonyi State has a full fledge minister and the party could not pay N5 million rent.
The governor also admonished party members not to blame the president for sidelining the party as he noted that the appointment of Dr. Onu into the Federal Executive Council was to attract government’s presence to the state.
“The main aim of governance is to help people around you.” I am the deputy apeaker of Imo State House of Assembly is to help people around me. In the 36 states of the federation, we have 13 major ministers and Ebonyi is one. It is bad that Ebonyi APC has such high profile minister and you are still complaining of marginalisation from the Federal Government.
“Our visit will definitely address these issues. We are here to know your problems and complaints. Ebonyi should join hands and build APC to avoid being a minority in the South East. APC is waxing stronger and stronger,” Okorocha said.
Earlier, the state chairman of the party, Ben Nwobashi noted that the leadership tussle which had factionalised the party has been resolved by the national secretariat of the party, who sent a delegation to register new members in the state.
“We had a team that was sent by the National Secretariat to register new members and the issue of leadership was presented and my humble self is still the chairman of APC in Ebonyi State and my deputy remains Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze.”
A chieftain of the party and the National Coordinator of Buhari/Osinbajo Initiative for Demonstrating Change, Chinedu Ogah expressed optimism that the visit has authenticated Nwobashi as the chairman ofthe party in the state.
