Akwa Ibom exco: How Glory Edet, Umo Eno, ors nominated new commissioners
Governor Udom Emmanuel on Monday sent a list of new commissioner-nominees to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for screening and subsequent clearance.
The list, as received by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was read by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey during sitting.
The new nominees are Engr. Cammillus Essien Imoh from Essien Udim, Dr Bassey Okon from Itu, Enefiok Isaac from Ikot Ekpene, Iniobong Ekong from Nsit Ubium, Offiong S. Offor from Ini and Emem Bob from Onna.
It could be recalled that erstwhile Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, Pastor Sunny Ibuot resigned penultimate Friday to take up a role as Director General of Campaigns for the Obong Bassey Albert governorship bid.
His colleague in the Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Akan Okon resigned Monday last week in order to pursue his governorship ambition.
Credible sources informed TheMail Newspaper that the search for Akan Okon’s replacement began same day the governor got his resignation letter. Few politically exposed persons in the LGA were given the task of finding a new person to take up the Itu slot in the exco. There were given specifications which the nominee must meet.
Few days later, the Governor during his exco meeting directed members of the council who are interested in running for different offices to tender their resignation.
Those affected by the directive were Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, Commissioner for Special Duties, Okpolupm Etteh, Commissioner for Agriculture, Glory Edet and Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno.
Government House sources informed TheMail that governor mandated some of his trusted commissioners who resigned to nominate their replacements.
Despite the drama that played out between Glory Edet and the First Lady, Martha Emmanuel at Ibom Hall penultimate Monday, TheMail Newspaper understands that the former still maintains a good relationship with Governor Emmanuel.
Sources from Government House informed TheMail Newspaper that Governor Emmanuel did Glory the honours of allowing her to nominate her replacement.
The governor is said to have told her to nominate a woman, preferably with same educational standing and professional career as her.
Just like Dr. Glory Edet who until her appointment into the state exco in 2013 was a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension in the University of Uyo, the new nominee – Offiong Offor is a PhD holder and works as a lecturer in the Agricultural Economics Department at the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU).
TheMail equally learnt on good authority that the governor’s preferred successor, Pastor Umo Eno who resigned as Commissioner for Lands nominated his kinsman from Nsit Ubium, Captain Iniobong Ekong, Rtd as his replacement. Sources in Nsit Ubium informed us that Captain Ekong popularly known as ‘Ikwa Afang’ has become closer to Umo Eno than he was before the latter was presented as the Governor’s preferred on January, 30, 2022.
Sources in Essien Udim informed our reporter that Engr Cammillus Essien Imoh was nominated by the outgoing Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Prince Ukpong Akpabio. We learnt on good authority that Prince Akpabio didn’t find it easy getting a good nominee on time as most of those he would have considered for nomination recently signed a communique, kicking against his House of Assembly ambition. A source close to the Local Government Council Chairman, Anthony Luke a.k.a Aluko told TheMail that both Prince and his very close friend Aluko had to rack their brains and search far and near before finally settling for Engr. Cammillus.
Meanwhile, the governor’s younger brother, Ekerete Emmanuel popularly known as ‘Small Governor’ is the brain behind one of the new commissioner-nominees. Following the resignation of Ephraim Inyang as Chief of Staff to Governor, ONNA had no member of the state executive council other than the governor who is the Chairman-in-Council. ‘Small Governor’ recommended his close friend, Emem Bob, a banker who hails from Oniong, the same clan in ONNA where Ephraim Inyang comes from.
A businessman, Enefiok Isaac was nominated to take the Ikot Ekpene slot after the resignation of Pastor Sunny Ibuot. We learnt that his nomination is courtesy of an influential MPM chieftain from the Federal Constituency. Enefiok is a former House of assembly aspirant for the Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency seat.
In the meantime, while other LGAs whose sons and daughter resigned to pursue personal ambitions got another opportunity to have their indigenes make it to the state executive council, Ibeno has lost out in the equation. Okpolupm Etteh who is exiting the state exco is running to represent Eket/Esit Eket/ONNA/Ibeno in the House of Representatives. While Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Ini, Itu and Nsit Ubium is having another chance in the exco, Ibeno’s slot has been ceded to ONNA, the governor’s LGA.
The commissioner-nominees will be cleared within the week by the House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions headed by Barr. Victor Ekwere of Mkpat Enin State Constituency. They are to be sworn-in by Friday as the governor prepares to go on a trip to Dubai on Monday next week with selected politicians in the state. The agenda of the trip might not be unconnected to the 2023 election.