Prof. Chinedu Nwajiuba, elder brother of former minister of state for education and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Emeka Nwajiuba, has explained why his brother did not attend the APC convention at the Eagles square in Abuja.
The ex-minister, despite paying N100 million for the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms, was conspicuously absent at the party’s Convention on Tuesday, when other 22 aspirants gathered for the presidential primary.
His absence came as a surprise to many, as he was one of the first ministers to resign from the Buhari-led administration after the President directed public office holders with 2023 ambition to leave their posts last month.
Prof Chinedu, in a statement, said that leaders of the party at the top level reneged on agreement and understanding that informed his engagement in the presidential project.
According to the former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Alike, Ebonyi State, the junior Nwajiuba reached understanding from the highest levels of the party from the onset and considering his pivotal role in the founding of the APC.
Prof Nwajiuba, who said he had been inundated by calls over the action of the ex-Minister of State Education, disclosed that the understanding was that the party would zone the ticket to the South, then South-East and that the candidate would emerge via consensus.
Besides, he said Chukwuemeka does not want to be associated with the ‘Dollar and Naira Bazaar’ that the Convention turned out to be and had to excuse himself.
The statement read: “Many friends are calling to find out why my brother, Dr Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, did not come out to address the APC convention.
“Simple: The understanding from the highest levels prior to his involvement, and considering his role in the founding of the APC, was that of consensus, as was with the National Chairmanship a few months ago.
“With that understanding, the Presidential ticket was to come to the South and the southeast.
“This has been the hope till the end of the negotiations. He, not wanting to be part of the Dollar and Naira bazaar, is convinced that what Nigeria needs now is no more of the same thing that has kept Nigeria at the low level it has been.
“Our challenges as a country cannot be addressed at the same energy level by which they were created.”
