Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment,
says he is not in violation of any law by accepting to be the spokesman of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council.
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), a civil society
organisation (CSO), had asked Keyamo to resign his ministerial position to
enable him carry out his campaign appointment objectively.
However, in a statement on Sunday, Keyamo said the group is
being sponsored by opposition parties.
“Firstly, without meaning to demean them, these are people
fully aligned to opposition parties but disguising as CSOs,” he said.
“We know them. I
cannot recall a single statement like this from these people throughout the PDP
era when PDP ministers were fully involved in presidential campaign activities.
“For instance, in 2015, my brother, special duties minister,
Kabiru Turaki, served as the deputy director-general (North) of the
PDP/Jonathan campaign council. These characters kept mum. So, you can be sure
that this is PDP speaking through one of their NGOs.”
The minister also said opposing his appointment as the
party’s spokesperson is denying him of his fundamental human right to freedom
of association.
“I am a full member
of my party, the APC, and I am entitled to participate in party activities. My
dues to my party is deducted every month from my meagre salary and sent to the
party,” he said.
“Being a director in a campaign council is like every other
party activity. They want to deny me my fundamental human right to freedom of
association because I am a minister.
“Thirdly, there is no conflict of interests. I fail to see
any. Am I using public resources to campaign? Not at all. We have an APC
campaign office and I have my well-furnished private chambers, better equipped
than my minister’s office.
“Even the car I use to media interviews is not a ministry
car. Since I became a minister, the ministry has not provided a single car for
my personal use. I have been sacrificing for the nation with my personal cars
and resources.
“This is now on
record and my permanent secretary can attest to this. I grant interviews after
my day’s work or at weekends or at break time.
“Fourthly, campaign directors are volunteers; at least I am.
We are not paid a single salary or allowance for our work, so the allegation of
double privilege (whatever that means) is incorrect.
“Fiftly, what does the law say? Section 84 of the Electoral
Act clearly states that political appointees are to resign if they are to
contest for any party position or any public office. No mention was made of ad
hoc appointments for party activities. So, strictly speaking, no law is being
violated here.
“Therefore, the so-called position of these people are
untenable, ill-informed and consequently rejected. They are jittery about the stout defence of
our party and government we are putting up and the unblemished projection of
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (our candidate) that we are making.
“I am sorry to
disappoint them, but I will serve my country and I will serve my party.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com