Akwa Ibom Governor, Emmanuel, sacks Commissioners, Special Advisers; Intense lobby starts for membership of new cabinet

Dennis Udoma

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has sacked members of his cabinet.

The dissolution order, which came as a surprise to the Commissioners and Special Advisers was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sir Etekamba Umoren.

The dissolution has finally ended months of speculations by the people of the state, most of who had suggested that Governor Emmanuel should have overhauled the State Executive Council (SEC) before now to be able to inject new blood in his cabinet to move the state forward.

They claimed that, the governor was carrying a burden since majority of the Commissioners were those who served in the immediate past administration of Ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio now, Senate Minority Leader and were still loyal to the Senator.

Our source who spoke on grounds of confidentiality said, Governor Emmanuel has had a gentleman’s agreement with the outgone Commissioners and Special Advisers to serve in his team for one year which has elapsed since the last celebration of Democracy in May this year.

According to a statement signed by the SSG which was made available to newsmen on Saturday in Uyo, the State capital, “Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council with immediate effect.

“The Governor expresses his deep and profound appreciation for the contributions of the EXCO members to the development of the state, and wishes them success in their future endeavours.

“Permanent Secretaries in the respective ministries are to take over the running of the ministries pending the reconstitution of a new Executive Council.

Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh, in a telephone conversation, also confirmed the dissolution to our Correspondent stating no reasons for the sack.

Already, individuals and political interest groups in the state have started jostling for places in the incoming cabinet for themselves or for their godsons or daughters. But a source close to the Governor told Global Patriot Newspapers, GPN, that Governor Emmanuel would want to use the opportunity of the constitution of the new Executive Council to assert himself as the leader of the party in the state.

“He would use this opportunity to bring on board his own team, though he would still accommodate the nominees of some of the godfathers of the state,” our source who pleaded anonymity said, stressing that “though a few of the old faces would resurface,it would be a brand new EXCO, with the bold imprint of Udom Emmanuel.”