Ben Ezechime, Enugu
There is anxiety in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Enugu State Chapter, over the delay in the appointment of Commissioners, Advisers and personnel aides by Gov. Peter Mbah, three weeks after his inauguration.
Ikengaonline reports that since his assumption of office as governor of the state, Mbah has only appointed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in the person of Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.
A source told Ikengaonline on the condition of anonymity that the governor has set up a committee to vet all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to enable him fully understand the situations in the MDAs.
An immediate past former Chief Executive Officer of one of the parastatals told Ikengaonline that the committee had distributed survey questionnaires to all the immediate past appointees to list problems and to suggest ways to revive them.
“They gave us a kind of survey questionnaire where you have to state the problems of the MDA which you headed and proffer solutions, and return to them,” he said.
However, while the governor is taking his time to appraise the situations in the MDAs, a cross section of the ruling party members are not comfortable as they want him to name his cabinet and other aides.
A top official of the party, who spoke to Ikengaonline in confidence said many party members, especially those that participated actively in the campaigns were not happy about the unfolding situation.
“I am not happy with the delay in the appointment of the cabinet and other aides by the governor.
“But that is not even the issue, what is giving some of us concern is that he is not carrying party members along. Some of us are not being consulted for advice on appointments,” he said.
Another party chieftain, Ugochukwu Ekwueme, also said it was unfortunate that no party member has been reached on appointment “but that is just as far as I know; maybe some people have been approached, I can’t say.”
Another party faithful, Ngozi Ugwu, also lamented about the situation, saying that the party members played a big role in Mbah’s emergence.
“We women helped to mobilise the women for him; so, we are expecting and hoping that he appoints women in his cabinet whenever he chooses to do it,” she said.
A civil right lawyer, Olu Omotayo, said the delay portrays the governor as an unserious administrator adding that he could not work alone.
“On point of law, he is still within the range because the amended law says you must constitute your cabinet within 60 days.
“But for me it is taking too long because you promised people that you will hit the ground running as soon as you are sworn-in and barely three weeks after inauguration you are still working with one appointee.
“You cannot do the work alone. For me that shows unseriousness on the part of the governor,” Omotayo said.
He advised the governor to take a cue from President Tinubu who has hit the ground running by appointing advisers to help his administration.
