Arthur Eze Warns Ngige Over Call For His Banishment

Engineer Arthur Eze, a notable Anambra-born oil magnet has warned the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige over statement credited to the minister calling for his banishment.

The statement issued on behalf of Eze by Mr Okechukwu Okpala, head media directorate of Arthur Eze’s conglomerate advised Ngige to respect the sanctity of his office as Nigeria minister.

Okpala in the statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Awka, said it was wrong for Ngige to involve himself in such conduct which ran contrary to the dignity of his office.

Ngige was quoted in some sections of the media calling for the banishment of Eze and 12 traditional rulers from Anambra who were recently suspended because they traveled to Abuja to visit President Muhammadu Buhari without permission from Gov. Willie Obiano.

It was gathered that Ngige, a native of Alor community in Idemili South Area of Anambra had led a protest in his country home where he was quoted to have called for the banishment of Eze and 12 traditional rulers.

“As a minister Dr Chris Ngige ought to know that no section of the Nigerian constitution empowers a state governor to banish or trample on the fundamental human right of any Nigerian citizen as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution,’’ Okpala stated.

“Any governor that attempts to heed to Dr Ngige’s call certainly should be taking an action that is against the letters and spirit of the Nigerian constitution’’, he said.

He further said that for involving himself in the community protest, “It is now clear that the compulsory etiquettes induction usually organised for appointed ministers meant nothing to Dr Ngige.’’

“ Accepted that Ngige has been involved in serious traditional leadership crisis in his community over the Igweship, but this should not becloud his sense of judgment to make calls that has no legal or constitutional backing,’’ he said.

Okpala added that for Ngige to call for the banishment of a man of Prince Engr Arthur Eze’s statue to say the least was most `irresponsible, callous, derogatory and unbecoming of him’.

He said that the media directorate of Eze would no longer take any further unpleasant statement against their principal for Ngige, saying “ we shall be left with no other option than to publish some facts and materials at our disposal which will shock Nigerians on the person of the labour minister.’’