A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State and former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Prof. Phillips Nto, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint an indigene of the state as minister to replace Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who resigned from the Federal Executive Council more than six months ago.

Nto made the appeal when he received APC stakeholders from Ututu, arguing that the continued vacancy in Abia’s ministerial slot had raised questions about the state’s representation in the Federal Executive Council.

He said appointing a replacement would also strengthen the APC in the state and makes it easier for members to campaign for Tinubu’s re-election.

Nto noted that states such as Oyo and Bauchi, whose ministers had resigned from the cabinet, had their replacements appointed almost immediately, while Abia’s slot remained vacant.

“I really don’t know what is responsible for the delay, but I believe that Mr. President should move swiftly to address the issue and give Abia people a sense of belonging,” he said.

According to him, APC members in the state had been forced to answer questions from opposition parties over why the president had not appointed an Abia indigene to the vacant ministerial position.

“Mr. President will make our job easier if he appoints an Abia person as a minister so that we could also be part of the administration,” Nto said.

The former commissioner, who was also a senatorial aspirant on the APC platform, appealed to Tinubu to appoint anyone of his choice to the position if disagreements among stakeholders were responsible for the delay.

Nto also told the APC stakeholders that the party had enough campaign materials for Tinubu and the APC, citing what he described as the achievements of the administration in the last three years.

He said the removal of fuel subsidy had made more funds available to the Federal Government and state governments for developmental initiatives.

Nto also cited the appointment of an Igbo as a service chief, which he said had not happened for eight years, as well as the rehabilitation of road networks in the South-East as achievements of the administration.

He urged APC stakeholders in Abia to remain committed to the party, saying the appointment of a minister from the state would further strengthen their position and make their political engagement easier.