Second Term Cabinet: Anxiety Over Gov Emmanuel’s Intentions

Ahead of the second term inauguration in Akwa Ibom State on May 29, anxiety has taken hold on political appointees in Akwa Ibom State as stakeholders speculate on the intentions of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the second term.

Nobody, not even key stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party PDP seem to have the slightest idea whether the shake up would be a minor or a major one.

Some of the key stakeholders even prefer not to comment on the issue or pre-empt the governor’s decision about his new cabinet

Some even say the governor would definitely step on toes this time given the level of lobbying and number of lobbyists hoping to influence the choice of the new cabinet.

The governor’s remark last Sunday on the constitution of his second term cabinet seemed to confirm speculations within government circle that he is under serious pressure especially by some of his cabinet  lobbying to be carried along.

Recall that Udom Emmanuel had while addressing worshippers at Full Life Christian Centre Uyo during a Sunday service said, “Let me thank the hierarchy of this church for their prayers and teachings. What the pastor preached today sounds like my manifesto. I have told people don’t send me text messages lobbying for Commissioner’s post”

Continuing the governor had pronounced that all his cabinet  members and Senior Aides must be farmers.

“I have a personal banana farm in Ini Local Government area which employs so many people. I am not sure if I have eaten a finger of it. So before you get an appointment you must show us your farm because I am leading by example.

“The present economic situation in the country requires everyone to evolve a tangible sustainable development efforts to change the narrative. So everyone is involved including the church in this mind renewal. We must work”, he had said

Reliable sources in Government House, however, revealed that serious lobbying for commissioner appointment started immediately after the governorship poll swept by Udom Emmanuel.

But the speculation in some quarters in the state particularly in the camp of the opposition is that the governor would shock so many people by his actions in the constitution of his second term appointees.

The sack of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Sufficiency and the suspension of Dr. Val Attah Chairman of Local government Service Commission penultimate week seemed to point to the speculation.

 But in the opinion of some analysts, those that would be be seriously affected would be those who were perceived to had worked secretly for the opposition during the electioneering.

As a source close to the governor told GreenWhiteGreen
“We know that there were some working in government who were also secretly working for the opposition,” he said in a telephone interview as he affirmed the readiness to start on a clean slate.

They also reasoned that the Commissioners who had benefitted from the administration of former governor Godswill Akpabio should not be returned for Udom’s second term having served full in the first term.

During the campaigns the news was everywhere that some of the appointees though few in number were secretly showing loyalty to their former boss’s (Akpabio and his wife) more than Udom Emmanuel. 

However, one section the governor is expected to retool is his media section which was believed to have been dominated by leftovers from the Akpabio era and where not, by those who were seen as not competent or greedy.

Meanwhile some commissioners classified as ‘Super Commissioners’ are easily expected to make the second term list.

They include the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Barr Uwemedimo Nwoko, Commissioner for Health Dr  Dominic Ukpong , Mr Akan Okon, Commissioner for Special Duties and Aviation,  Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen, Commissioner of Works, and Finance Commissioner, Linus Nkan.

The implication is that their performances in their respective Ministries, as well as the role they played to ensure the governor and the party were returned into power in the March 9 election did not go unnoticed by majority of the residents.

Meanwhile many people are watching to see if the governor would keep to his pronouncement that all his aides must own farms.

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