President Muhammadu Buhari has been called to sack the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Mr. Paul Ikonne over alledged anti-party ahead of Aba North/South Federal Constituency and replaced with an Ngwa man.
Stakeholders of Ariara International market in a statement which was signed by Chief Innocent Madumere and sent to CAPITAL POST on Sunday, claimed that the Executive Secretary was working against the government in power.
The statement noted that the NALDA boss has not only been sabotaging the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari led government, but was working for the opposition political party, hence, insisting that he should be displaced from government.
The statement noted that the Ariara International market stakeholders in Aba through their leader and a business mogul have made their stand known during a call-in radio programme, stressing that it was shocking for an appointee of All Progressives Congress (APC) government to work against the same government that appointed him.
He said Ikonne has been meeting with the stakeholders pleading with them to support the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, instead of his own party, APC in the forthcoming Saturday election
According to Madumere, “We were yet to find out the reasons he worked against Uche Ogah during his governorship outing in the last election, only for him to start plotting against Mascot Uzor Kalu in the upcoming Saturday election.
“In the two elections Buhari contested, he also worked against Buhari. He recorded no votes for the APC in his ward.
“The president cannot keep such a chameleon in his government. There are so many reliable Ngwa men that can replace him and do a good job. He collected money from the PDP and he is begging us to support PDP candidate which we will never do.
Since Ikonne does not take part in party activities, he has no justification to remain in that position. Mr President should replace him the same way the former minister of trade and investment, Okechukwu Enelamah was relieved of his job for anti party activities. You cannot be in a party and work against the same party ” Chief Madumere stated
Speaking further amidst interruptions, he said , “Ikonne claims he is supporting the PDP candidate because he is an Ngwa man, we want the president to sack him from NALDA and replace him with an Abuja man so he can come and work in Ngwa. Ikonne is a very tribalistic and unreliable man that can never be trusted in anything.
There are more reliable, informed and loyal APC Chieftains from Ngwa who can do the needed job in NALDA.
Madumere who also said that President Buhari has done so much for Ariara Market including lighting up the market manufacturing activities with 9.5MW plant, noted that Ariara market stakeholders will officially write the President and APC National Party Chairman on Monday for their request on Ikonne.
CAPITAL POST recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed March 27th for the by-election of Aba North/South Federal Constituency following the demise of the former occupant of the seat, Hon. Ossy Prestige, a member of All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA).
