Umo Eno,Akwa Ibom State Governor.
Abasifreke Effiong
Governor Umo Eno’s verbal and emotional onslaught on against his appointees last week’s Sunday at Delightful Christian Church, Goodluck Jonathan boulevard, Uyo, has accentuated public speculations that the Governor is no longer comfortable with his team.
Governor Umo Eno inherited all his commissioners except one, and majority of his advisers and aides from his predecessor, Mr Udom Emmanuel.
In June, against speculative media report on an imminent cabinet reshuffle, the Governor said his concern was not to appoint new commissioners but to make the existing ones “fit into the mould” of what he wants to drive his ARISE Agenda.
Now, it seems the Governor is weary of his team, culminating in a sweeping statement of mistrust he made against them last Sunday.
Eno said “…I don’t trust any of you…” while giving his remark in the church.
The service was attended by the Deputy Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, State Chairman of the PDP, Head of the Civil Service, among other top functionaries of the State.
Despite having an already large pool of assistants, more than 600, the Governor announced plan to appoint executive assistants whom he said will serve as delivery advisors, at the service.
“We have decided to appoint delivery advisors to accelerate the execution of our projects because there is a lot of work to do.”
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“We want to ensure that Government promises are followed through, and we must have what is identified globally as delivery advisors. We must, as a State, begin to have people that don’t get involved in politics, but their jobs would be to sit down to ensure that everything we have said is being followed up”.
The Governor’s “no trust” statement has sparked speculations, with some people arguing that he was venting his frustration over reports that some appointees were in the habit of abandoning official appointments to line up at the airport to receive the former Governor, Emmanuel, whenever he is in the State.
The speculation is that Eno is under pressure from his kind men to act on the reports showing that majority of his appointees were still loyal to Emmanuel.
From information on his official facebook page, former Governor Emmanuel has visited the state at least 23 times since he left office in May 2023.
16 of those times had him come for private events, five times for official state functions and twice for party events.
Photographs on his Facebook page show that the former Governor was received at the airport by a large retinue of commissioners, House of Assembly members, chairmen and members of boards and commissions, chairmen of local government councils and aides to the Governor, during all the visits.
The Atlantic Observer reported that Governor Eno has been offbeat in the reprimand of his appointees who absent themselves from his official events, without prior permission.
On Wednesday July 3, the Governor instructed Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, at a public event, to issue query to Commissioners who did not attend the event.
The event was the opening of the 25th international Pastors’ conference at Insight Bible Church, Uyo.
Eno who was visibly displeased by the low turnout of commissioners at the religious event, ordered his director of protocol to take note and write the names of all the commissioners who were present at the event, directed the SSG to query those who were absent.
According to sources, the Governor was worried that his appointees would prefer to attend private events to his official events, therefore, he directed that henceforth appointees who wish to invite their colleagues to personal events must channel same through the dean of commissioners for approval.
Prior to last Sunday’s offbeat statement, the state government in a circular dated 9th September and signed by the SSG, Prince Uwah, said henceforth attendance at Governor’s appointments and official functions was mandatory for commissioners, special advisers, board chairmen and members, honourary special advisers, special and personal assistance of all cadres.
The circular reads “The Governor has observed that some political appointees of Government are in the habit of not attending Governor’s appointments without prior notice or permission.The practice is not appropriate with the team spirit as encapsulated in the ARISE Agenda.”
“Arising from the above observation and in line with His Excellency, the Governor’s directive, political appointees of government are expected to show unalloyed support to His Excellency the Governor by attending all Governor’s appointments and official functions.”
“Strict compliance to this notice is expected from everyone concerned. ”
Eno is said to be tired of working with the “Udom’s men”, but does not have the political will drop them and appoint his own team.
A source close to the Governor said Eno is stuck with the team until after the council election in October.
“He does not trust as he said, that is why he has not funded most of the ministries. At the same time, he would need the approval of the former Governor to drop them. So, he is truly in a fix. That will remain so until after the local government elections.”
