…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent member of the Labour Party (LP), has responded to the recent remarks made by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
Keyamo had stated that the appointment of a minister of state is unconstitutional and an aberration.
Okonkwo agrees with Keyamo’s assertion, highlighting the discriminatory nature of assigning a minister of state position to certain states instead of having a substantive minister for each state.
However, Okonkwo criticizes Keyamo for accepting salaries and emoluments associated with the post and holding onto them until the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
In Okonkwo’s view, this makes Keyamo complicit in the illegality.
As a result, Okonkwo calls for Keyamo to refund all the salaries and emoluments received throughout his tenure and to resign from his position, emphasizing that this is how men of honor should behave.
Okonkwo’s Response to Keyamo’s Criticism
Kenneth Okonkwo supports Festus Keyamo’s statement regarding the unconstitutionality of the minister of state position.
Okonkwo goes further, arguing that it is discriminatory to allocate this position to specific states instead of appointing a substantive minister for each state.
He agrees with Keyamo’s assessment that the discretion and contributions of ministers of state are often constrained under senior ministers.
However, Okonkwo criticizes Keyamo for not speaking out against the illegality earlier and for accepting the associated salaries and emoluments until the final FEC meeting.
In Okonkwo’s view, Keyamo’s acceptance of these benefits implicates him in the illegality.
Okonkwo calls on Keyamo to rectify the situation by refunding all the salaries and emoluments received during his tenure and to resign from his position.
He believes that such actions are befitting of individuals of honor and integrity.