Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has formally declared his intentions to run for the country’s 2023 presidential election.
The Minister, who declared his Presidential ambition while addressing a mammoth crowd at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Alor, Idemili-South Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State on 19th April 2022, stated that he had a ‘burning desire to see a prosperous, united and equitable Nigeria’.
The former governor of Anambra State notified that he was well equipped as an administrator due to his 40 years of experience in the public service, saying he possessed a huge wealth of experience, capacity and energy as well as a large heart to accommodate the differences among Nigerians.
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It would be recalled that Sen. Ngige disclosed a few days ago that God had spoken to him about his presidential ambition and he would declare on Tuesday.
He made the statement when members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) welcomed him at the junction between Anambra and Enugu states.
Speaking on Holy Saturday to the crowd, who had earlier asked him to declare for the presidency, Sen. Ngige informed them that he had consulted and prayed, and God had spoken back to him.
“I want to assure you that the period of Lent ended last night, and throughout the period, we communed with God. We did spiritual exercises and fasted. We talked to God and His Angels and God has talked back to us. God has spoken to me. I want to assure the people that I will not disappoint you. I will speak to you in the language you will understand,” he said.
According to him, as governor of Anambra for 34 months, he achieved more than those who spent eight years in office, adding he would replicate that at the national level, if given the opportunity.
He said it was a great mistake for people to compare him with Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, noting within the 34 months, he did better than the duo.
He went further to state that he did not only lay the foundation of the new Anambra but built houses, edifices, schools and other facilities in the State, adding that pensions were paid as and when due during his tenure as governor.
“I want to be your ambassador in Nigeria. We will work as we did in Anambra if the Nigerian people give us a chance. I will work as I did in the Senate if Nigerians give us the chance. We will also work as I have been working as a minister of labour and productivity over the years,” he said.
According to Sen. Ngige, he had met all the governors in the South-East zone and they had accepted to support his presidential ambition.
It was indeed laughable and annoying for Sen. Ngige to promise Nigerians that he would replicate what he did as Labour Minister if given the mandate to serve as the country’s President. Was he actually kidding Nigerians?
Under his watch as Labour and Employment Minister, it has unabated been one ugly story or the other as regards issues pertaining to labour in Nigeria.
Since he assumed duty as Minister, the staff of the various tertiary institutions in the country have invariably embarked on industrial actions. As I write, the same set of workers are still on strike, yet nothing tangible is being done by the government to resolve the unending impasse.
Ngige may have other expensive jokes to crack concerning his presidential ambition, but he ought to desist from reminding the electorate that he is the current Minister of Labour in the country as he goes about campaigning for victory.