Governor Emmanuel and the imperative of cabinet shakeup

BY ETORO-OBONG INYANG

 

The recent rebuttal by the chief press secretary to the governor, Ekerete Udoh to speculations that his boss was contemplating a cabinet shake up following his victory at the Supreme Court might have gone midway to douse tension among members of the state executive council , but, one thing looks certain, whether now or in the nearest future, the governor would have need to reconstitute his cabinet for obvious reasons, in the final analysis, this is Udom Emmanuel’s government, and he would take absolute responsibility for the success of his government or otherwise, irrespective of the forces that aided him to become the governor. 

Opponents of the governor have argued that Emmanuel’s administration was akin to his predecessor’s third term, especially, when the slogan, “Let godswill be done, again, again and again”, Keeps reechoing in the political landscape of Akwa Ibom. A peep into the structure and composition of Governor Emmanuel’s cabinet shows that more than 65 percent of the current commissioners and special advisers were inherited from the administration of the immediate past governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio , a development that has seemingly fuel insinuations that Akpabio was still the one calling the shots in the present administration.

Notwithstanding that fact that Akpabio muscled his way through to see to the emergence of Udom Emmanuel as the governor, one thing that should be appreciated by all and sundry is that the duo have different philosophy, different character trait and as such would view things differently, so whether the godson had sworn to an oath of allegiance to the godfather or not, the people of Akwa Ibom would want to feel the so called dividends of democracy in a way that touches and affects them in so many positive ways. 

The centre-piece of Emmanuel’s administration hinges on industrialization via a five-point development agenda, and for him to succeed, he needs to build his own team to drive his vision. The present set of commissioners and special advisers all owe their loyalty to Senator Godswill Akpabio , let the truth be told. The governor himself during his thanksgiving service made startling revelation that some of his aides were hobnobbing with the opposition prior to the Supreme Court judgment, the governor was being clever by not indicting members of his cabinet, and that goes to show the level of mistrust, distrust and disloyalty among members of his cabinet.

The people of Akwa Ibom would earnestly wish to see the governor shove aside the present members of the state executive council, not because, he has issues with his godfather, but, for the reasons that he needs to assert his leadership. It would not make any commonsense for the governor to continue to retain those who served as commissioners and special advisers in the administration that failed to deliver on Ibom seaport, Ibom hatchery, Use-Ikot-Amama road, Etebi-Enwang road, Ibom science park, and other failed projects of the immediate past governor, to retain them in the present administration would amount to Govenor Udom Emmanuel shooting himself in the foot. 

With the affirmation of his victory by the Supreme Court, the governor has three years and three months to deliver on his campaign promises, let’s leave the issue of second term for now. And to accomplish his development agenda, the governor might have the need to evaluate the performance of the present members of his cabinet in order for him to take critical and strategic decisions that would make him succeed.  The people of Akwa Ibom would hold Governor Emmanuel accountable, and not his predecessor. 

Those who were retained in the cabinet on the speculation that they would assist in the event of a rerun should be told to go. The next three years need dedicate, committed, and patriotic minds to drive the vision of Divine Mandate. Those who have been fortunate to take oath of office for more than two times should be preparing to hand over to other Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who have fresh, vibrant, and  innovative ideas .