By Praise Chinecherem
A former president general of the Isuaniocha community in the Awka North local government area of Anambra state, Chief Tony Onyeagolum, has advised Governor
Chukwuma Soludo to be wary of the choices he makes in the appointment of people into his government.
He said the advice was necessary for the governor to avoid engaging persons with questionable backgrounds in sensitive areas of his administration.
Addressing reporters on Monday, Onyeagolum said the recent appointment of a certain person (name withheld) as an adviser to the governor, despite the fact that the person had been declared wanted by the police, cast doubt on the general belief that the Soludo government was made up of impeccable technocrats.
He stressed the need for background check on the characters of persons to be appointed to positions, especially on security matters, so as to avoid engaging persons who will be working against his noble ideas and manifesto.
According to him, it is not in the best interest of the people for “such a personality, alongside others who were declared wanted for causing atrocities in Isuaniocha” to be given appointments “when their crimes and actions are still being investigated.”
“The administration of former Governor Willie Obiano had set up a panel to investigate the remote causes of the incessant crises in Isuaniocha. I wonder why persons identified as key players in the matter will become advisers to Governor Soludo on sensitive areas that were the major bone of contention.”
“Governor Soludo recently set up a committee and asked people to report injustice, corruption and security matters in all the communities, including Isuaniocha, which is a well commended step. But why will such persons with questionable background be appointed?
He argued that, for the appointments in question, the Isuaniocha community and entire Awka North local government area boasts “lots of credible persons” the governor could have chosen from.
While alleging that the recommendations for the appointments were made by somebody that was out to sabotage the ongoing investigations into the atrocities in the area, Onyeagolum solicited the governor’s quick intervention.
“Giving people access to gun is to empower them to continue their nefarious activities that made police to declare them wanted,” he added.
When contacted, the Anambra state police command public relations officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was yet to receive the report.
“I don’t have such report before me,” he said.
