By Chidi Nkwopara
OWERRI — Angry reactions have continued to trail the recent motion passed by Imo State House of Assembly calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho.

Addressing a press conference at the weekend in Owerri, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Mr. Ben Iheanacho, described the motion as “absolutely malicious and irresponsible”.

In his words: “The call by the Assembly on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to sack the Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, is absolutely malicious and irresponsible as the president remains the chief executive of the country and reserves the prerogative of appointing cabinet ministers, based on certain criteria, which include competence and not zoning.”

He also disclosed that since his assumption of office, the minister had dutifully discharged his assigned duties to the best of his capacity, adding that there had been no complaint from the appointing authority so far.

The minister’s aide reminded Imo lawmakers that they did not need a marabout to tell them that the state had myriads of problems, including assassinations, kidnapping and rape cases to occupy them instead of displaying crass incompetence.

“It is on record that at the inception of Yar’Adua/ Jonathan government, Chief Charles Ugwu, from Okigwe zone and Chief Achike Udenwa from Orlu zone held the state’s slot of ministerial appointment, while Orlu zone currently occupies the position of the state party chairman,” he said.

He, however, promised that regardless of the barrage of attacks initiated by Imo people, “whose stock in trade is to pull prominent sons of the state down, as scripted by their paymasters, the minister will continue to remain focussed in tackling the challenges confronting the Ministry of Interior.”