By Dr. Buchi Nnaji 

The article published in Courtiers Mind Reporters on November 4, 2025, titled “A Reckless Appointment: Tinubu and Mbah’s Grave Disservice to Enugu State...” offers a sweeping and misguided condemnation of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh’s ministerial nomination. It characterises the decision as “mediocrity and nepotism” and insinuates that the appointment was merely a reward for loyalty rather than merit. That narrative deserves a factual and principled rejoinder.

The claim that Dr. Udeh is unqualified or a mere “political boi boi” ignores his professional record and distinguished accomplishments. Dr. Udeh currently serves as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State and has recently been elevated to the elite rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) - a recognition reserved for the nation’s most exceptional legal minds. This honour is not conferred lightly; it is a mark of peer-validated excellence, commitment, and professional distinction. To dismiss a man of such standing as a political novice is intellectually dishonest and reveals more about the bias of his critics than about his competence.

It is also inaccurate to suggest that his background in law disqualifies him from leading or contributing to a ministry associated with innovation, science, or technology. Such reasoning is rooted in a limited understanding of governance. Innovation leadership in today’s world transcends technical expertise alone, it demands strong legal frameworks, regulatory insight, and institutional reform. These are precisely the areas where Dr. Udeh has demonstrated exceptional capability. Under his leadership, Enugu State’s Ministry of Justice pioneered digital court record systems, enacted landmark reforms in electricity regulation and land administration, and established a Witness Trust Fund to protect the integrity of justice. These are acts of governance innovation - the very foundation on which technological and scientific progress depends.

Beyond the technical debate, the criticism betrays a deeper discomfort with the inclusion of young, competent professionals in governance. The lament that Dr. Udeh is not a “political heavyweight” reflects a nostalgic attachment to outdated politics rather than an objective concern for performance. Nigeria’s crisis of leadership is not due to the lack of aged politicians but to the absence of dynamic, principled, and reform-oriented minds. If the nation truly desires progress, it must embrace a new generation of leaders like Dr. Udeh - individuals who combine intellectual depth, policy experience, and the courage to break from the corrupt traditions of the past.

The allegation that Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah recommended Dr. Udeh purely out of loyalty is equally misplaced. Enugu State had been underrepresented in the Federal Executive Council since the resignation of the previous minister. Dr. Udeh’s nomination restores that representation and does so through a figure whose professional credibility, academic excellence, and administrative record promise to bring dignity and purpose to federal service. His potential presence in the cabinet would elevate both Enugu’s profile and Nigeria’s governance standards.

In conclusion, the criticism of Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh’s nomination is a reactionary attack on merit and generational renewal. What Nigeria needs today is leadership driven by competence, innovation, and accountability - not recycled politics or outdated hierarchies. Dr. Udeh embodies the future of public service: learned, disciplined, and visionary.

It is time to discard the old narrative of patronage and embrace a new one defined by merit and modern leadership. Nigeria, and indeed Enugu State will be better served when we entrust capable young minds with the responsibility to lead.