UYO — GOVERNOR Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has sworn in and assigned portfolios to 25 commissioners and two Special Advisers in his new cabinet.
The new cabinet has six of nine commissioners returned from the immediate past State Executive Council, SEC, dissolved in January by the governor still retaining their last portfolios.
At the swearing in Uyo, yesterday, Eno told the new cabinet members: “You have been privileged to be selected out of the 7.9 million people to provide service to your state based primarily on your proven capacities and ability to get the job done.
“Your loyalty is to the governor and the state. You have been handed a vision as contained in our Arise Agenda, to work collaboratively to interpret and deliver on those key planks of our governance blueprint for betterment of our people and state.
“This EXCO must be shaped by love, teamwork, unity of purpose and the spirit of oneness, carrying each other along as partners rather than adversaries and being very observant, so that we do not allow one person to destroy collective attainment.”
In a statement of no-go-area, the governor warned: “Only the Commissioner for Information and my Chief Press Secretary are authorised to issue official press statements.”
Among the new EXCO members who retained their portfolios from the immediate past cabinet were Uko Udom, SAN, who remains Commissioner of Justice/Attorney General of the state and Captain Iniobong Ekong (retd) still superintending over the Ministry of Lands.
Others are Dr. Offiong Offor of the Ministry of Agriculture; Prof. Eno Ibanga, Ministry of Works and Fire Service; Frank Archibong (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) and Gen Koko Essien (retd) at the helms of the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways.
Ini Ememobong, immediate past Commissioner for Information now takes charge as Commissioner for Special Duties, Ibom Deep Sea Port, while Mr. Linus Nkan, immediate past Finance Commissioner swapped portfolio with Emem Bob, immediate past Commissioner for Economic Development in the new cabinet.
Among the new faces engaged in Governor Eno’s new EXCO, famed sports journalist, administrator and former Chairman, Akwa United FC, Paul Bassey now overseas the state’s Ministry of Sports.
