The recent appointment of members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) into the administration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked mixed reactions.
However, Sir Paul Chukwuma, a governorship aspirant for the 2025 Anambra election under the APC, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s actions, asserting that the president has done nothing wrong.
Prominent appointees include Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi and a member of the APGA Board of Trustees (BoT), who was named Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Another appointee, Mr. Mark Okoye, a former Commissioner and Managing Director of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), was appointed Director General of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
During a media interaction in Umuleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, Chukwuma addressed criticisms of the appointments, challenging the narrative that the APC-led federal government is indifferent to the Igbo people.
He remarked: “As a political party, we in APC are partisan, but we must remember that we are one Nigeria. We operate a federation where sub-nationals engage constructively with the federal government. The question is, are those appointed not from Anambra? Does the president not have the prerogative to appoint whomever he deems fit?
“If these appointments had gone elsewhere, people would still complain. For me, as an APC leader, I see nothing wrong in what the president has done. APGA claims it nominated these individuals, but that is not true. If they insist, let them present evidence. The president, in his fatherly role, listened to the concerns about Igbo marginalization and made these appointments accordingly.”
Chukwuma further highlighted the inclusive approach of the APC, stating that the party identifies credible individuals across political lines who are willing to serve.
He said: “APC does not practice winner-takes-all politics. We embrace credible individuals from any background, as long as they are committed to serving in the APC government. The two appointees, Bianca Ojukwu and Mark Okoye, are credible people.”
He also alleged that APGA, despite claiming in Anambra that APC is insignificant, frequently pleads with the federal government for recognition.
“APGA has been lobbying President Tinubu for appointments while maintaining a contradictory stance in Anambra. They claim an alliance exists with APC in Abuja, yet there is no such arrangement. If we have 20 appointments from Anambra and two are from APGA, it only underscores the president’s inclusive leadership.”///
Tinubu has done nothing wrong by appointing APGA members into his govt – Anambra APC Guber aspirant
