From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The pioneer deputy state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu state chapter, Comrade Adolphus Ude has debunked allegations that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, is not living up to expectations with his responsibility in driving foreign policies against COVID-19 scourge in Nigeria.
A published report on an online newspaper(not THE AUTHORITY) captioned, “Corona virus-:Foreign affairs minister, Onyeama missing in action “alleged that it is still unclear whether Foreign affairs minister Onyeama, is on self-isolation or on his annual leave. The report went further to allege that there is possibility that Mr Onyeama might have contacted corona virus, since he enjoys close working relationship with chief of staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari, who have tested positive to the virus.
Furiously reacting to the allegation before news me in Enugu at the weekend, Comrade A C Ude, who is currently the Enugu state Coordinator of PMB Solidarity Movement, said that the allegations lacked facts since Mr Onyeama is a member of the Presidential committee set up to handle the issues of COVID-19 in Nigeria, disclosing that all members of the committee were tested and certified free from corona virus disease, before they were assigned the duty.
His words: ‘The truth is that the Foreign affairs minister Mr Geoffrey Onyeama is a member of the Presidential committee set up by the President to handle the corona virus problems in the country. I reliably gathered that all members of the committee were tested and certified to be free from corona virus sympthoms before they were called on board. Therefore the report and insinuation of Mr Onyeama testing positive to corona virus symptoms are purely figments of imagination of the Reporter.”
Comrade Udeh asserted that the report might have been sponsored by political detractors of Mr Geoffrey Onyeama. He said the political detractors of Mr Onyeama in Enugu state APCl are accusing him falsely of spearheading the petition before the Bisi Akande National reconciliation of the party, on issues surrounding the party crisis in Enugu state. Comrade Udeh said himself and some of the aggrieved members of the party in Enugu state wrote the petition.
Udeh stated,” I am the one that led interim and pioneer leaders of the party in Enugu state in the petition forwarded to Bisi Akande led reconciliation committee against Chief Ben Nwoye, the acclaimed state chairman of Enugu state APC. Therefore, the Foreign affairs minister should be left out of the matter,” he disclosed.
He said that in the letter to the APC National reconciliation committee headed by Bisi Akande, and dated February 25, 2020,they want Chief Ben Nwoye to clear himself of the allegation that he was not qualified to have contested for his second tenure, having not resigned from office to indicate he was gunning for a second term in office.
Comrade A.C.Udeh disclosed that he suit is pending at Court of Appeal, Enugu division.
