Divergent reactions continue to emerge as Akwa Ibom people await Governor Umo Eno’s prolonged yet imminent cabinet reshuffle in the state.
Recall that Governor Eno, 18 months after assuming office, is yet to reshuffle the cabinet inherited from his predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. Though he had, on different occasions, promised to change them, especially during his September 2024 media briefing.
Four months after the pronouncement, the same set of commissioners are still in office, contrary to the public assurance.
It was gathered that the commissioners and advisers were retained to allow the governor to ‘compensate them’ for the services they rendered during the last administration and election.
From checks, some of the commissioners have spent up to 10 years in office, while some of them were appointed by successive administrations.
Respondents who spoke on condition of anonymity to newspaper correspondents in Akwa Ibom claimed that Eno could not take a decision to sack the present executive members due to alleged “influence from politicians and powers beyond his control.”
They said, “Umo Eno inherited all the commissioners from his predecessor except the Commissioner for Internal Security, General Koko Essien (retd), appointed to head the newly created Ministry of Internal Security.
“Those commissioners are still there. The governor lacks the political will to dissolve the cabinet, even after he had publicly said he would do so.”
However, a resident of the state who identified himself as Donatus said there was no law in place that stops the governor from keeping the inherited commissioners as long as he is comfortable working with them.
He said what should be paramount to the people is the value the commissioners have added or will add to Governor Eno’s administration, and not necessarily the length of time they have spent.
According to him, “no law says he can’t keep them. He has the prerogative to appoint or sack the commissioners. What we should be after is how these people are helping him to interpret his agenda and bring about good governance.”
Meanwhile, two commissioners from the Ministry of Special Duties and the Ministry of Environment who exited the state executive council are yet to be replaced.
Chief Unoh Etim Unoh, who was the Commissioner for Environment but resigned to contest the local government election in Urue Offong Uruko, has yet to be replaced, while Dr. Bassey Okon, who was sacked by the state government, has not been replaced either.
Speaking during the thanksgiving service on January 2, Eno had criticized his commissioners for claiming that there was “nothing beneficial in government, yet they were not willing and ready to resign.”
He said the commissioners were like a nagging housewife who would say her marriage was not worth it, yet had seven children while still in the marriage.
