Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the erstwhile national publicity secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, NPDP, has blasted those calling for the sack of Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour, for refusing to openly support Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
There have been calls among a section of APC stalwarts for the former Anambra Governor to be sacked over his stand on a presidential candidate ahead of 2023.
In a statement on Thursday Eze described those making such calls as sycophants and people with a very poor grasp of the essence of democracy.
He reminded them that democracy is deeply rooted in freedom of choice, adding that in a democracy like Nigeria, people who are worth their salt can barely veer into the personal concerns of others, particularly to the extent of asking for the resignation or sack of a serving Minister for merely making his mind bare.
“The campaigns are here and they should be issue-based. Citizens are allowed to extensively assess the planned policies and programs of each candidate canvassing for their votes to know who merits their support and any candidate who is able to convince the people to believe in his plans of action wins the election,” he said.
“That is the beauty of democracy and Nigerians should be happy over the progress we are making in the journey to strengthen democracy in our body of polity.”
Eze a member of the APC Legacy Projects Media Team said ”Ngige remains a man whose input and sacrifices to the formation of APC and the growth of our nascent democracy cannot be overemphasized.
“What did Ngige actually say to warrant such a foolish suggestion? While answering a question of who amongst Bola Tinubu of APC and Peter Obi of Labour Party he will likely vote for in the 2023 presidential election.
“I do wonder if those making such an insinuation will want Dr. Ngige to say that he will vote for Tinubu on national TV so that he will no longer be safe in his community or that he will vote for Peter Obi so that those who don’t like him will then ask for his sack.
“But Dr. Ngige, being a great thinker shocked them by stating that his conscience will determine how he will vote come February 2023, so whoever doesn’t like his answer should go and hug the closest transformer.”
Commending Ngige for his bravery, Eze said he is excited that President Buhari does not pay attention to issues as trivial as the call for Nigige’s sack on grounds of the exercise of a right which is private and exclusive to him, like every private Nigerian.
“I must salute Dr. Ngige for whom he is and the level of wisdom he displayed in answering such a very controversial question. Let the candidates take their sermons to the electorates and whoever wins the heart of the majority of the electorates wins the election”, Eze declared.