Attempt by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, to defend President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged lopsided appointments incurred the wrath of participants at a forum organised, yesterday, by the Federal Ministry of Information in Enugu.

His argument was met by boos, causing the meeting to be halted for several minutes, as voices rose in condemnation, many accusing him of “betrayal”.

Ngige had said: “I do not believe that the President has been lopsided in his appointments. He has, in fact, as much as possible, tried to carry every segment of the country along.

Look at the ambassadorial nominations. Some states did not get. Enugu got two and nobody is complaining. States like Gombe that didn’t get have not killed anybody.

“President Buhari chose people that he is comfortable with. If Buhari is not supporting Ndigbo, I will not be in his government. This government is managing the poverty the Jonathan administration left behind.”

The crowd resorted to booing him when he said the Chief of Staff appointed by Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is his “brother from Nsukka”.

•Excerpted from a Guardian report. Photo shows Ngige.