The Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Udom Emmanuel has sacked his Chief of Staff,
Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen with immediate effect.
The announcement was made through a press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, in Uyo on Tuesday.
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In the statement, it was said that the sack of the Chief of Staff by the governor was because the government ‘needed someone with competence to maintain the spate of economic development in peace’.
“On behalf of His Excellency, the Governor, government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, I write to convey to you His Excellency, the Governor’s profound appreciation of the worthy contributions you made to the development of our dear State while you served as Chief of Staff to the Governor.
“However, given the urgent need to match skill set and competencies to the task of maintaining the momentum of economic development in peace, your services are no longer required and you are hereby relieved of your position, as Chief of Staff ( CoS) to His Excellency, the Governor with immediate effect. You have therefore directed to hand over all property of government in your possession, to the Secretary to State Government,” the SSG stated.
However, the sack is not unconnected to Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen’s indictment of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the State Accountant-General over some abandoned road projects in his community.
Inyang-eyen declared his intention to represent Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the National Assembly in the 2023 elections at the weekend to his community. He further exonerated himself as Commissioner of Works from blames over the uncompleted projects in the state.
He added that Governor Emmanuel was responsible for signing the request for funds for the projects as approved by the State Accountant-General, saying their failure to do so stalled the projects.
His position has led to calls for his sack from youths and stakeholders of the Peoples DemocraticParty in Onna Local Government Area.
However, there have been counter calls from Inyang-eyen supporters, like the Paramount Ruler of Onna, who believes that the former CoS did no wrong in explaining the reason for the stalled projects.
Inyang-eyen who was Commissioner for Works before he became the CoS to the governor is one of Governor Emmanuel’s close allies at loggerheads with him over his choice of Umo Eno as his successor.
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