Details have emerged why President Muhammadu Buhari selected Hon.Emeka Nwajiuba, as ministerial nominee from Imo State.
Nwajiuba was screened by the senate yesterday where he was told take a bow and go.
Despite being a member of the House of Representatives representing Okigwe South, Nwajiuba, a long time ally of the President, is said to be a “unifying factor” among various factions that exist in Imo APC.
This newspaper had informed last month that top chieftains of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Imo State had made painstaking efforts to get the President’s nod to be nominated.
Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, APC governorship candidate in the 2019 Imo governorship election, Senator Hope Uzodinma, were said to be among those in the running to be nominated as Minister.
Aside being a close ally of the President since the days of the defunct All Progressive Party, APP, Nwajiuba as Minister from Imo State is expected to have the capacity to reposition the party and douse the potency of various factions that had divided the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State.
He was non aligned to any of the factions during the fight for the soul of the party in Imo State between then Governor Rochas Okorocha camp and Senator Hope Uzodinma led Imo APC Coalition.
Okorocha and the APC coalition had fought a bitter war for the the party’s governorship ticket.
When Okorocha lost the bid to plant his son in law, Uche Nwosu,as the governorship candidate, he backed Nwosu to join the Action Alliance, AA.
This earned him suspension from the National Working Commitee, NWC.
Last month, this newspaper had reported that the Presidency and the party leadership were considering appointing a Minister who has the political nerve to rebuild the APC in Imo State which crumbled to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during the last elections.
A source said “Nwajiuba was just the perfect person that suits the role. He neither belonged to any of the factions or camps that were dominant in the APC in Imo State before the elections.
” He has the ears of the President. He is an ally of Buhari and he posses the political experience to rebuild the APC in Imo State ahead of the 2023 elections. Infact if he decides to vie for the governorship, he will be considered.
Newspaper reports in Owerri had speculated that Nwajiuba, who heads TETFUND, may be the launchpad to build the APC in Imo State and retake the State from the grip of the PDP.
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