Premium Times
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, is not known for holding back his tongue. But on Friday, he craftily avoided endorsing the presidential candidate of his party, Bola Tinubu.
Mr Ngige had shown interest in the presidential ticket of the ruling party by picking the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms but pulled out after President Muhammadu Buhari directed his appointees who were aspirants to resign in line with section 84(12) of the electoral act.
When Mr Ngige appeared on Politics Today on Channels TV, he was asked about his choice between Mr Tinubu and the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
The minister refused to give a straight answer.
“I am not active in politics. When I withdrew from the presidential race, I said I was going to face my work. The work is multifaceted and multifarious as I came back.
“I am not in the campaign council and I don’t want to be. I am doing a national job which is more important than any campaign council. The Vice President and the SGF are not there,” he said.
Initially, it appeared as though Mr Ngige was torn between supporting the candidate of his party, Mr Tinubu and his kinsman, Mr Obi.
Or perhaps he was scared of facing the backlash that South-east politicians who endorsed anyone other than Mr Obi have faced.
It would be recalled that Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, are some of the recent politicians who have had to recant their statements for daring to speak against the former Anambra State governor…
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