A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, known as the Enugu North APC Frontiers, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address what it described as a long-standing injustice against the Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
The call comes as President Tinubu prepares to appoint a replacement for the recently resigned Minister, Uche Nnaji, who stepped down last week following allegations of certificate forgery.
In a letter to the President, signed by Barr. Ejikeme Ugwu, National Convener, and Sydney Eze, National Secretary, the group urged that the next ministerial appointment from Enugu State be drawn from Enugu North.
They said the request was to draw the President’s attention to the “long cry of the good people of Enugu North Senatorial Zone consisting of over fifty two percent (52%) of the entire population of Enugu State over the non-appointment of our indigene into the Federal Executive Council since 1999 to date, i.e., since this democratic dispensation.”
The group noted that while Enugu West has produced four ministers and Enugu East three, Enugu North has not had a single minister since 1999.
“This is a clear manifestation of marginalization and lack of fairness and justice in Enugu State since this democratic era,” the letter stated.
Reiterating their demand for inclusion, the group added: “Your Excellency, in furtherance to fairness and equity in Enugu State, we from Enugu North, as one of the three Senatorial Districts of Enugu State, and over half the population of the state, are asking for inclusiveness to also have the opportunity to serve for the first time as a Minister in the Federal Executive Council and other executive leadership positions at the federal level.”
The group also pointed out that between 2015 and 2023, no one from Enugu North held an executive position except General Eze, who served as an ambassador, and the late Senator Ayogu Eze, appointed as a commissioner at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RAMFAC) in May 2023.
Data shared by the group showed that since 2015, Enugu West has held 22 key positions, Enugu East 10, while Enugu North trailed with just 10.
They described Enugu North as a zone “blessed with a hardworking population, honest and God-fearing people,” adding that the district has “an abundance of talents, professionals and technocrats” capable of driving the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda if appointed.
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“We are confident that such persons will discharge their duties unblemished. We can safely assert, Sir, that Enugu North, having nurtured the APC in Enugu State so far, with her large population, can produce for the State someone with passion to propel and build a strong and virile party in the state,” the letter added.
The group praised the people of Enugu North for bearing “the grief of marginalization and deprivation with dignified patience and non-violent candor,” describing them as “accommodating, patient and progressive.”
They concluded by urging the President to “consider and appoint one of our eminently qualified indigenes to represent Enugu State in the Federal Executive Council and therefore break this jinx and Renew the Hope of the good people of Enugu North, as history beckons you.”
The group also appealed for consideration of other qualified persons from Enugu North in various federal appointments and assured President Tinubu of their loyalty, pledging that “our people will give you and our great party the highest votes come 2027.”