Akwa Ibom’s New Cabinet: Mixed feelings as Emmanuel takes charge.

DECEMBER 3,2016.
THE decision of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State to reconstitute his cabinet has been received with mixed feelings.
Penultimate Friday, the governor, sent a list of 18 commissioners and two special advisers nominees to the State House of Assembly for approval. The nominees who were all cleared by the House of Assembly were sworn-in on Thursday.
The complaints
The complaints are coming largely from some members of the immediate past council, who had hoped that they would be returned on the basis of the major role they played in bringing the incumbent governor to power.
They allege that there is a well calculated and deliberate scheme to push them and their areas out of political relevance in the current administration.
Political leaders and elders of Etim Ekpo local government area, in a protest statement, by Comrade Inibehe john Ukpong, accused the governor of bias and threatened to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC in the next general election for excluding them in the new exco.
Ukpong said: “If the anomaly is not corrected we will deliver this local government area to APC in 2019. With a population of about 300,000 people, Etim Ekpo is a strategic LGA in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, which gave Udom bloc votes. But in the recent list of commissioners and special advisers sent to the state House of Assembly for screening and approval, Etim Ekpo is conspicuously missing, and there is widespread anxiety as to why such a strategic local government should be omitted.”
The Oro axis, which also claimed that it was not well treated in terms of distribution of political offices, accused the governor of toeing the same path with his predecessor in marginalising the Oro people.
Commendations for Emmanuel
Many Akwa Ibom people have, however, lauded the governor for taking the bold step and for exhibiting an independent mind in carrying out the exercise.
For them, this is the first time the governor has demonstrated seriously that he is in control as the number one citizen of the state.
Many expressed the opinion that the complaints and protests by various interests were understandable and expected.
Saturday Vanguard reliably gathered that the complaints are not unconnected with the fact that the governor did not involve godfathers and interests in the selection of the appointees.
The development, it was further gathered, had led to serious pressure on him which led to the delay in releasing the names of the nominees after the council was first dissolved in October.
It was even speculated in the state capital, three weeks ago, that the governor had sent the list of nominees to the House of Assembly one week after the sack of the immediate past exco but had to withdraw same due to pressure from some bigwigs.
A loyalist of the governor confided in Saturday Vanguard that those who are grumbling are the few who thought that the governor should have consulted them before the selection of the appointees.
“And there is no justification for those who had served from the beginning of the last administration of Godswill Akpabio’s to the immediate past state executive council to complain because they were dropped. They have had their fair share; they should allow others also to go there”, the loyalist said.
Appointment based on merit – Emmanuel
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, the governor noted that the selection of the new cabinet members was done on merit.
His words: “For the appointees, let me place on record that your selection was based purely on merit. If you are a returnee, your records spoke for you, and for the new entrants, you have been drafted into what I may christen the ‘Team of Doers.’
“You have been called upon to contribute your quota in our quest to give quality service to our people and translate our campaign promises to affect lives, and ensure that government indeed is seen as a force for good. I urge you, therefore, not to derail from that path of trust and distinction that earned you this position and the onerous responsibility that comes with it.”
The new commissioners include Mr. Paul Alexander Udofia, Arc. Ime Okon Ekpo, Dr Nse Udo Essien, Prof Eno Ikpe, Mr. Idorenyin Sunday, Mr. Linus Nkan, Uduak Charles Udoinyang, Mr. Charles Udoh, Mr. Orman Esin, Dr. Iniobong Essien, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, Barr Uwemedimo Nwoko, Victor Antai, Monday Uko, Dr Glory Edet, Mr. Udo Ekpenyong, Mr. Akan Okon and Mr. Ephraim Inyang
Those sworn-in as Special Advisers are Barr Ekong Sampson and Mrs. Ekemini David Umoh
Of the 20 appointees, 11 are fresh appointee.