‘Returning almost everybody in former Gov Akpabio's team smacks of insensitivity’ – former chief press secretary to Akpabio, Usoro Usoro

Mr. Usoro Usoro .....Not happy with Gov. Udom Emmanuel

By Nse Peter

Mr. Usoro Usoro, a former chief press to the immediate past governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has lambasted Governor Udom Emmanuel for starting “very badly with Eket (people)” in his choice of commissioners.

Usoro, who hails from Eket local government area of the state, said in a public statement, Thursday, “to appoint a 70-something year old man who reportedly has no voter's card, is a spite on Eket.”

 He was referring to Dr. Dominic Ukpong, a retired director of Mobil Producing Nigeria, whose name was sent along with 17 others to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for screening and approval before they will be sworn-in as commissioners, likely next weeks.

Usoro said Ukpong is barely known in Okon area of Eket where he comes from. “So, on what bases is his appointment as a commissioner from Eket? Perhaps, Dr Ukpong is Bro Emma's personal friend. But if he wanted to appoint commissioners based on sentiment, why not some of his allies who participated in his election? And why start with Eket?

“Ukpong does not deserve to bear the tag of an Eket person in Udom's government because he neither identifies with Eket, nor did he work with Eket people towards Udom's success at the polls.”

The former chief press secretary said Ukpong can only become a commissioner if Emmanuel is insensitive to the feelings and contributions of Eket people.

Usoro also took a swipe at the governor for bring back a good number of Akpabio’s men like the former commissioner for information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, the former commissioner for justice, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko and former commissioner for housing and urban renewal, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem.

Other Akpabio’s men that will be included in the new cabinet are: former commissioner for environment, Mr. Enobong Uwah, former commissioner for transport, Mr. Godswin Ntukudeh, former commissioner for youths and sports, Mr. Monday Uko, former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mr. Uwem Ita Etuk, the former commissioner for finance, Mr. Akan Okon and the former special assistant on technical matters, Mr. Etido Inyang.

Usoro said: “Returning almost everybody in former Gov Akpabio's team smacks of insensitivity to me, as an Udom supporter; it smells of ingratitude to the larger Akwa Ibom people who stood by the Governor on April 11, 2015.

“It is like saying those on the list were the only ones who worked for Udom's victory. It is admitting that they are indispensable. Giving them automatic appointments, in addition to the millions they reportedly made during that campaigns, is discouraging to some of us who spent our little resources to ensure that our wards and local governments were won over for Udom!”