The political rivalry between President Muhammadu Buhari’s Minister for State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Delta and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is set to be rekindled following agitations by their political supporters over the Delta State ministerial spot.
The Punch in a report on Friday alleged that before the governorship elections, many members had agreed that the ex-Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Keyamo, SAN, should make Tinubu’s cabinet.
However, the defeat of the party’s governorship candidate, Omo-Agege, has thrown up the name of the former Senator who represented Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly (NASS) as a possible nominee from the state.
But a chieftain in the state, who spoke to The Punch said the party was ready with its nomination.
He said, “The name of such a person cannot be open to the public now, though, you know that the former minister, Festus Keymo worked very well for Bola Tinubu.
“So, as a party faithful in the state, no other name will be sent other than Keyamo’s name because he worked hard for the President and he deserves the ministerial position.’’But another source said Omo-Agege might be nominated.
Efforts to reach the APC Chairman in the state, Mr Sobotie Omeni, failed as calls put across to him were not responded to.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Valentine Onojegheuo, in a text message, stated, “I can’t give you any information now until approved by Chairman”
But The PUNCH authoritatively learnt that APC leadership in the state met in Abuja on Thursday over ministerial appointments.
The PUNCH gathered that the prominent Delta APC leaders who were in the Federal Capital Territory for the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly stayed back for the meeting.
A party leader at the meeting, who would not want his name mentioned, said, “The party chieftains stayed back for meetings which were not unconnected with charting the way forward for the Delta APC, including fine-tuning the ministerial nominees, despite the party’s not winning the recent governorship election.”
However, GWG.ng reports that President Bola Tinubu may have set his sight on a nominee outside the purview of the state chapter given his poor performance in the state during the presidential election.
GWG.ng further reports that before the present tussle for the ministerial slot the Delta State chapter of the APC was enmeshed in crisis after the state congresses when allies of the former Deputy Senate President took full control of the state structure, a development that made Keyamo dub the party officials as houseboys and house girls of Omo-Agege.
Credit: GWG.ng with additional reports from The Punch except headline
