WEAK GOVERNOR: Crisis in government house over appointments

* Udom fails to stamp his feet in appointments

* Crisis in government house over positions

* People are just giving themselves appointments, they should bring out their appointment letters – Aniekan Umanah

Right from the word ‘Go’, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has always struck most Akwa Ibom people as someone who may end up being a weak governor and a stooge to the immediate past Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio. This has become more glaring and conspicuous with just 32 days before he clocks his first 100 days in office, a Government House official revealed this much to THE INK reporter.

His failure to stamp his feet in the area of appointments has not aided his grapple to prove most people wrong that he is not a weak governor. This failure has however put his house in disarray, pitching his core supporters (including those offered appointments) against each other; it was gathered in the course of this investigation.

It could be recalled that his seeming weakness almost cost his treasured relationship with his childhood friend, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-Eyen. Inyang who is now the Commissioner for Works had left Lagos for Akwa Ibom, abandoning his job at Nigeria Customs Service where he was a topshot, took the risks and campaigned for the Governorship of Mr. Udom Emmanuel. Insiders said Ephraim was almost sacked from Customs for being fully involved in politics, and it only took the intervention of the then Governor of the state, Senator Akpabio who talked to top Nigerians in order for the big stick not to be wielded on Ephraim Inyang.

With all the troubles, sacrifices and risks taken by the Onna born Ephraim, an agreement had earlier been reached that he would be compensated with the position of Chief of Staff to the Governor if Udom emerges the State Chief Executive. With the Governor sworn-in to office, Ephraim had immediately began carrying out the responsibilities of the Governor’s Chief of Staff as was evidenced in the reception held in honour of the governor at his hometown same day he was sworn into office.

The position of Chief of Staff is one of most important positions in government, and as usual, many people indicated interest. Mr. Ufot Ebong, co-ordinator of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) in the state, and Prince Ukpong Akpabio, cousin to Senator Godswill Akpabio, were some of the names mentioned to have eyes on the position. The Akpabios were interested on who occupies the position. The Akpabios were said to have brought out their preferred candidate who of course was not Ephraim Inyang whom Udom had pencilled down for the role.

The issue almost escalated into a full blown war as Ephraim was said to have been angry with his friend (Udom) for dragging his feet on the appointment. He is reportedly said to have threatened that he would return to Lagos to resume his work at Customs but it took the intervention of the First Lady, Martha Udom Emmanuel who begged him not to sacrifice his friendship with her husband and to exercise patience till the issue is sorted out.

According to sources, Udom then decided that there will be no position of Chief of Staff to the Governor since the Akpabios do not want Ephraim. The Governor then ended up appointing Ephraim Inyang Commissioner and allotting him the Ministry of Works.

Pundits say Udom should have demonstrated his strength, power and authority as a Governor by damning the Akpabios and appointing Ephraim Inyang as his Chief of Staff. “Heavens would not have fallen if he had appointed Ephraim Inyang as Chief of Staff”, says a Government House source to THE INK reporter in Uyo a forthnight ago.

“Before the issue of Ephraim Inyang, Udom Emmanuel’s weakness was first witnessed when he succumbed to the Akpabios and appointed Sir Etekamba Umoren as the Secretary to the State Government against his wish’’.

“It is a known fact, especially in government circles that another of Udom’s close pal, Mr. Akan Okon was to be given the SSG. The Akpabios threw forth their nominee; Udom resisted the offer initially but he still had to dump Akan Okon and appoint Akpabio’s town man, Etekamba Umoren. No matter what he wants to say to justify the appointment of SSG, we all know he was coerced to drop Akan for Umoren. Our Governor is simply weak, he is not a man of his own”, said another source a very top ranking brass in Udom’s kitchen cabinet.

More embarrassingly, findings by THE INK reveals that all the commissioners appointed their CVs to one of the Akpabios before their names were sent to the House of Assembly for screening. “We don’t need to talk more on that. We all know that over 80% of the commissioners in Udom’s cabinet were nominated by the Akpabios”, our source said.

Our sources said Udom can be pardoned if he was coerced by ‘higher forces’ to make the appointment faux pas he made in the areas mentioned above, but it is unpardonable for him to allow the Akpabios still decide who he should appoint as his aides (Special Assistants and Personal Assistants).

Findings by THE INK reveal that Udom has abandoned most of those who worked and toiled for his emergence as Governor, especially those whom our reporter learnt did some hatchet jobs in and out of their consciences.

Udom Emmanuel has so far appointed 4 media aides (a Chief Press Secretary and 3 Special Assistants). It is understood that those who stuck out their necks for the project, even at the risk of their reputations have been abandoned by the former Zenith Bank chief.

A pathetic case is that of Aniekeme Finbarr who was vilified by his friends and fans alike for supporting Udom’s governorship bid. There were reports in the social media that the young man has been appointed Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, but investigations by this paper reveal that it is a hoax. The position would have entailed emceeing the Governor’s official events, but that has not been the case.

Sources in Government House who confided in this paper on condition of anonymity said that a certain Dolly Popman, a loyalist to former Director of Protocol (Aniekpeno Mkpanang) had sternly warned Finbarr to never get close to the microphone in any official government event. The warning our reporter learnt was also with a caveat that Aniekeme Finbarr ever gets close to the Government House microphone, that he will be arrested, handcuff and whisked away by security operatives. Our reporter gathered that Popman had insisted that the directives that Aniekeme Finbarr stay away from government functions is from the Governor, Udom Emmanuel himself

We learnt that even after being removed as the Director of Protocol, Aniekpeno Mkpanang is still holding sway in the protocol department and has his men there.

“It is a pity. Udom has turned a blind eye to most of the media guys who worked for him. Finbarr is one of them. I can remember when he wrote an article against Assam Assam when the SAN attacked Udom, he was attacked in the cyberspace. His reputation was in the decline. He lost followership in the social media. Nobody ever thought Udom could abandon Finbarr.

“The Governor should have named most (if not all) of his media aides immediately he was sworn in. The only media appointment he willingly made was that of Chief Press Secretary. The three other appointments were made as a result of recommendations and pressure from politicians close to him.

“Aniekpeno Mkpanang has served Obasanjo, and then served Akpabio for eight years where he made billions of Naira. He should have been sent far away from Government House. May be as Permanent Secretary, he should have been sent to one of those non-vibrant ministeries. But no, our Government sent him to the Special Services, which literarily controls the protocol unit. His men are still in the Governor’s protocol team.

“In the issue of who should emcee the governor’s official events, he used Rapahel Edem to fight Oliver Udokpo even when the latter was the official state government MC. Now that Oliver is no more the State MC by the virtue of his position as Permanent Secretary, Aniekpeno has instructed his men not to allow Finbarr near the microphone. On the day of swearing-in of Commissioners, most people had thought it would be Finbarr on the microphone, and even most of the Commissioners had sent their citations to Finbarr, but unfortunately for the young man he was barred from going close to the mic. Because of Udom’s ‘siddon-look-attitude on the matter, he is creating a cold war between Finbarr and Raph who are best of friends.

“I blame Udom for all these troubles. He has failed to put his house in order and the opposition may usurp the opportunity to cause chaos”, said a well placed source who is privy to happenings at the Government House’’.

Sources berated the governor for the seeming neglect of his core loyalists, stating that for Udom to ignore the likes of Andrew Uwanta, the ACA warlord, it shows how ungrateful he is. Sources said even people who never supported the governor have now been given appointments.

“Aniefiok Iwaudofia who was recently appointed S.A to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilization (Youth Matters) was not an Udom man. We all know he supported Okpolpm Etteh but now he has been accommodated. There are other instances but let’s just leave it at that. It is embarrassing that Udom is not the governor we thought he would be, he is just too weak”, dropped one of our impeccable sources who had earlier been promised an appointment but yet to be given.

Reacting to the issues, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aniekan Umanah said his boss has only been in the saddle for 2months and cannot make all the appointments within such a short time frame.

“It is not true that the Governor has abandoned anybody that worked for him. The governor cannot solve all the problems of his supporters and give all appointments in 60 days. As for the purported issues in the protocol unit of government house, it is totally false. They are working and there is no problem. Anybody who says he has been given appointment should bring out his appointment letter. Appointment is not a hearsay thing. When the governor gives an appointment, it is the SSG that issues appointment letters. People are giving themselves appointments, and allocating themselves offices. The only instrument of appointment is an appointment letter from the government”, said Mr. Aniekan Umanah in a chat with THE INK on Wednesday night.