Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has hailed the distribution of appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying that he is fair to the South East geo-political zone by the “juicy” appointments given to Igbos.
Soludo, who is the National Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said Tinubu has not marginalised Ndigbo despite losing the five States during the February 25 Presidential election.
The Anambra State Governor said the appointment of the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Dave Umahi, as Minister of Works meant that President Tinubu never considered the regional disposition and voting pattern.
During the poll, All Progressives Congress (APC), on which platform Tinubu ran, got a total of 127,605 votes.
The Governor praised the President for what he described as “juicy” appointment to the region when the Minister visited him in Awka, the State capital, at the weekend.
Other Ministers from Southeast Doris Anite ( Industry, Trade and Investment; Imo State); Uche Nnaji (Innovation, Science and Technology; Enugu), Nkiru Onyejeocha, Minister of State, Labour and Employment; Abia); and Uju Kennedy (Women Affairs; Anambra).
Umahi promised to return to Anambra State for a comprehensive assessment of the federal roads, with a view to fixing them.
Noting that President Tinubu never considered his rejection by the South East during the poll, Soludo said: “The Ministry of Works to South East is huge.”
He said the president decision to assign the big portfolio to a Southeast politician contradicted the the popular feeling that “in politics, you don’t get what you deserve, but what you bargain for with votes.”
Soludo said: “Giving the totality of votes we contributed from Southeast and looking at the ministerial portfolios, we may not have the basis to begin to demand for “juicy” portfolios.
“But, the President graciously gave us one of our finest and best, one of the few engineers who pioneered concrete pavement as current standard for road construction.
” Nigeria is a federation. You cannot stay in your state, clap with one hand and expect noise. You need the other hand, which is the federal government, for things to work.
“With you, Engr. Umahi in office, you are a perfect round peg in a round hole. Please, keep showing your leadership.
“What you said about the possibility of coming back again for us to move around in Anambra State will be fantastic because we have fundamental challenges on road infrastructure and especially how it’s delivered by the Federal Government.”