By Chuka Okorie, Abakaliki
The All Progressives Congress (APC) defended President Muhammad Buhari’s appointment of a‘dead man’ from Ebonyi State as a member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
Premium Reporters had reported that Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday appointed thirty-eight people to the board of the FCC.
The President forwarded a letter to the Senate seeking approval for the appointment.
The letter was read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.
Buhari had requested for Chief Tobias Okwuru’s confirmation by the Senate as a board member of the federal government agencies.
It was however gathered that the appointee had died on February 27, 2020.
Also known as Aliezza, Okwuru was a former member of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015.
Reacting in a press briefing, the APC Ebonyi State Chairman, Mr Eze Nwachukwu, explained that Tobias Okwuru was hale and hearty at the time he was nominated for the position by Buhari.
He berated the party in Ebonyi, for not informing the relevant authorities on the death.
Nwachukwu said: “Okwuru was nominated ‘a living man’ in January, healthy, hearty for the position and he updated and submitted all his necessary curriculum vitae by himself.
“What happened is that in-between his nomination and letter conveying his nomination to the Senate, Okwuru painfully and sadly answered the ultimate call
“We accept responsibility and take the blame because as a party we are supposed to have written the national leadership of our party and the Presidency informing them on the demise of Chief Okwuru as a ranking party member.
“But unfortunately, the family has not made the death official and has not commenced burial arrangements before the Coronavirus pandemic that led to lockdown, ban on burial and other social gatherings.
“So, it is the responsibility of the party to put the record straight and that is why we are using this medium to correct the erroneous impression.
“It is not the fault of Mr President and the Presidency that Okwuru’s name later appeared in the nominees’ list.”