Controversy Shadows Dissolution Of Abia Cabinet

Controversy is shadowing the dissolution of the Abia State cabinet with insinuations that it was directed towards quietly removing the powerful commissioner for trade and industry, Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe.

The Abia State Executive Council was dissolved last weekend by Governor Okeize Ikpeazu. However, three commissioners were retained in their portfolios along with the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Chris Ezem. Those retained were the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uche Ihediwa, the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji.

The dissolution of the cabinet came at the point political tension was swelling on the intentions of Hon. Ndukwe a former deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. Ndukwe had recently received the former governor of the state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who is also the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state. The visit was couched in the form of a condolence visit.

Why Controversy Is Shadowing Dissolution Of Abia Cabinet

However, critics of the commissioner and notably associates of the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji had questioned the intentions of the former commissioner for trade and industry with some alleging that his fraternisaiton with Kalu was preparatory to leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for Kalu’s APC.

There were also unconfirmed allegations that he was sighted in APC meetings and circles.

In the midst of the allegaitons and counter allegations for his sack, a national daily reported sources around him as threatening that hell would be let loose if he were sacked.

Remarkably, the dissolution of the executive council was announced last weekend as the claims and counter claims on Ndukwe’s survival in the Ikpeazu cabinet resounded.

“You cannot totally dismiss the Ndukwe factor as the reason for the sack of the cabinet but of all the reasons being mentioned it is about the most recurring,” one political commentator in Umuahia told GWG.

Ndukwe has survived the political landmines in Abia from the period of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly before his appointment as commissioner for trade and commerce.

His rivalry with Speaker Chinnedum Orji started when Orji visited Senator Kalu on his release from jail. Ndukwe had led the criticism at that time wondering why Orji should associate with Kalu. However, Kalu’s recent visit to Ndukwe spurred allies of Speaker Orji to launch a barrage of attack on Ndukwe for receiving a man he wanted others in PDP to boycott.

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