Udom scraps 8 Ministries

In a move that has been described as commendable by many, Governor Udom Emmanuel has toed the path of President Muhammadu Buhari by running a government of about seventeen members of Exco. The Akwa Ibom State Governor THE INK understands will not run a Government of more than seventeen personnel in his Executive Council. This move, it was learnt is to ensure that the Udom administration does not run an expensive administration so that funds which would have been spent on some ministries and Bureau that are seen as duplicating of others would be channeled into other things towards the betterment of the state and her citizenry.

It was learnt last night that Mr. Udom Emmanuel feels running a government of about twenty five persons like his predecessor Godswill Akpabio did is wasteful as he is said to have also reasoned that so much funds must have been sucked into wasteful adventures. THE INK reliably gathered that the Bureau of Industrialization and that of food security which were created by former Governor Godswill Akpabio will be submerged into the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as well as Ministry of Agriculture respectively.

A source from Government House told our reporter that, it is the belief and wisdom of the present Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel that there should be a remarkable difference in his administration hence the need to run a government with a sizeable number of personnel to make it smart and accountable. Continuing further, our source disclosed that, when the Governor received the hand over note, he studied it and discovered that some ministries and bureau were of the same composition and that some of them were only duplicating the function of others. The Governor is said to have moved to ensure that he runs a government of not more than seventeen members of Exco.

The decision by the Governor to run a lesser number of personnel as members of his Exco have seriously affected the thinking and calculation of politicians who had hitherto had big eyes in the commissionership position. For instance, a close Government House source told our reporter that Governor Godswill Akpabio who had hitherto wanted to nominate 12 commissioners for Udom will now nominate only six. Our source said, Akpabio had before this time insisted that he will nominate 12 commissioners for Udom until after he realized that the new Governor will be running an Exco council of only seventeen members.

Investigations by THE INK reveal that Governor Udom Emmanuel has come under very serious and intense pressure from politicians who are eager to make the Executive council. Our reporters who have been monitoring the unfolding events report that lobbyists have been calling those they presume are closer to Udom. Some are even said to have been mounting pressures on Martha, the Governor’s wife with a view to finding favour in the eyes of the first family and be appointed to serve as commissioners in the Udom administration.

It was gathered by our reporter that with the lesser number of personnel that will serve in the Executive Council, it was doubtful whether most commissioners that served in the Akpabio administration will return to the Udom Emmanuel administration. THE INK gathered that Aniekan Umanah, the former commissioner for Information may not return to the Executive Council especially as the Deputy Governor is also from the same ward with the former commissioner.

Sources say Barr Emmanuel Enoidem is a sure bet in returning to the state Exco. It was not clear as at press time between Engr. Etido Inyang and Mr. Don Etim who will return. Information from Ikot Ekpene indicates that there is pressure on the Governor coming in from the Local Government Area. The people of Amayam are of the opinion that since the Urban clan have benefitted from the administration of Godswill Akpabio having had two persons serve in the Exco council that it is just an obedience to justice for the Commissionership slot of Ikot Ekpene to be zoned to Amayam clan. Those in the fore front of this argument are Sunny Ibuot, a former Council Chairman for the area who served recently as the DG for OBA’s governorship ambition. Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien is also said to be backing the agitation of the Amayams to produce a commissioner. Those in the know confided in our reporter that Ibok Essien’s backing of Amayam is because of his vested interest in the chairmanship of the area which he wants to get for his relation.

Others who served with the Akpabio administration and are likely to return are the former commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko. Prince Uwem Ita Etuk of Ibesikpo Asutan, Enobong Uwah of Uyo are imminent returnees to the state Executive Council if information monitored by our reporter is anything to go by. Mr. Akan Okon who was Udom Emmanuel’s choice for the office of the SSG will return to his post as the commissioner for Finance.

As at last night, THE INK reporter gathered that new faces into the Executive council will be the Chairman of Mbo Local Government Area, Hon Victor Bassey Antai. Antai, those who claim to know insist will be honoured into the Exco council of Udom because he was persuaded by the former administration to step down for the Senator of Eket, Sen Effiong Nelson. Another new person that will serve in the Udom Emmanuel Executive Council will be the former speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Anietie Etuk. Anietie Etuk, it could be recalled had to shut down his National Assembly ambition for Sam Ikon. Government House sources say Etuk was persuaded by Akpabio and Udom to step down for Ikon and was promised the position of a commissioner in the Udom’s administration.

Another new face expected to serve with Udom is the man behind Daily Independent Newspaper, Mr. Akpandem James. Mr. James who hails from Nsit Ubium is expected to take over the ministry of Information and Communications as the commissioner.

Meanwhile, the former leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Hon. Okpolupm Etteh and the political leader of Esit Eket, Mr. Benji Udobia are expected to send nominees to be made commissioners.

While it is unclear whom Etteh will nominate, sources have already hinted THE INK that Elder Benji Udobia has already penciled down his son, Benjamin Udobia, Jnr as a nominee for the position of a commissioner.