COMPLETE STAND STILL
Enugu Group Names Ibekaku as Choice for Ministerial Slot
Following the recommendation of the screening committee set up by congress, citizens of Enugu State under the aegis of Enugu Patriots (EP) have endorsed an anti-corruption expert and immediate past Director of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku as the rightful candidate to be appointed as minister to represent the state in the soon-to-be constituted cabinet of General Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement signed by the Coordinator of the group, Hon. Vincent Anidiobu and Secretary, Chief Vitalis Ani, the group described Ibekaku as a consensus candidate, whose credentials could not be challenged by any other in the race.
They argued
that
every calculation favours the candidature of Ibekaku, insisting that the state must present her best candidates in order to have an outstanding representation in the cabinet, even as they appealed to the presidentelect, Buhari, to insist on the best candidates across board in order to have a vibrant and functional cabinet.
The group said: “Ibekaku is a visionary technocrat who has distinguished herself in all her endeavours and therefore the most qualified. We are more interested in competence, credibility and fairness. We have consciously scrutinized all the candidates jostling to be appointed Ministers from the state and none of them has the kind of pedigree and credentials she possesses.”
“Looking at her records, one needs not be told that she fits into the incoming administration perfectly. She initiated various reforms in the anti-corruption sector in Nigeria from 2000-2013. As the former Director of the NFIU, she initiated and drafted the bill to set up the Nigeria financial intelligence centre in compliance with international standards. While working as the manager for anti-corruption section of the DFID’s Justice for All Programme and as an Adviser to the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, She also initiated the review of the terrorism bill, the mutual legal assistance bill, and the proceeds of crime bill.
“Our screening was not centered on any sentiments, but strictly on competence. Ibekaku is our ideal candidate. She is technically competent, with proven track records and proven integrity and her loyalty to the party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is not in doubt, as she is no doubt, the new face of APC in Enugu State. She is a mother of all; neutral and not involved in the present battle for relevance and control in the state. She has the capacity and ability to reconcile all the warring factions in the Enugu State chapter of the APC and shall reunite and reposition the Party in the state. The screening committee did a thorough job and the acceptance of the committee’s report was unanimous. Nobody said no! The screening committee assessed the personalities and credentials of all other contenders and decided to pitch tent with her.”