AKSG nominates Ini Ememobong and 7 Ors EXCO Members, sends list to House of Assembly (full list)

Comrade Ini Ememobong

By UbongAbasi Okon

Governor Udom Emmanuel has finally sent his list of EXCO nominees to the AKHA after weeks of anticipation, ThinkAkwaIbom can report.

In a first list forwarded earlier by the governor and read on Thursday on the floor of House and plenary by the Speaker the following seven names were nominated for confirmation as Commissioners & Special Advisers: Prof. Eno James Ibanga, Hon. Frank Archibong, Comrade Ini Ememobong, Dr. Augustine Vincent Umoh, Dr. Ini Nathaniel Adiakpan, Mrs. Enobong Mbobo and Elder Amanam Nkanga.

Prof. Eno Ibanga, Frank Archibong, and Ini Ememobong are names that were earlier touted months ago as prospective commissioner-nominees.

Prof. Eno Ibanga who is currently the Acting Vice-Chancellor at the Akwa Ibom State University and would likely replace the current Commissioner for Education, Prof. Nse Essien.

Hon. Frank Archibong is also touted as a possible replacement for the outgoing Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Udo Ekpenyong.

According to sources, the governor’s wife wants a new person to take charge of the Ministry of Women Affairs while Glory Edet remains in the Ministry of Agriculture.

“The Ministry Agriculture and Women Affairs would be split into two. Dr. Ini Adiakpan is an educationist and former board member. She is a nominee of the governor’s wife and would most likely be posted to the Ministry of Women Affairs. She has been involved in politics for some time now”, said our source.

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With Frank Archibong getting the Eket slot, the embattled Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong may be relieved of his appointment. Dr. Augustine Vincent Umoh from Ikono LGA is tipped as a likely replacement for Dominic Ukpong in the Ministry of Health. Dr. Umoh is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology. He is the 14th Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State.

Those who are likely to be dropped to make way for their kinsmen in the new exco is the current  Commissioner for Environment, Rt. Hon. Ekong Sampson from Mkpat Enin, Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Iniobong Essien from Ibiono Ibom, Dr. Dominic Ukpong from Eket. As their LGAs slots have been taken up by Prof. Ibanga, Comrade Ememobong and Hon. Archibong respectively.

It was learnt that the governor sent in the name of Dr. Imo Moffat from Etim Ekpo to the house later on Thursday afternoon. We now have 8 commissioners/special adviser nominees has sent an extra name to the House of Assembly for consideration as Commissioner/Special Adviser.

Dr. Imo Moffat is an old boy of Samuel Bill Theological College, Abak and Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Uyo.

According to reports monitored from TheMail newspaper, it was hinted that the governor may create two more bureaus to accommodate the new special advisers.

According to TheMail, “Our sources say about three commissioners may be dropped, alongside Ephraim Inyang and Udo Ekpenyong who are leaving the Ministries of Works and LG/Chieftaincy Affairs respectively, which would make it five vacant positions. With Prof. Ibanga possibly taking Prof. Essien’s position in the cabinet, two more bureaus would be created making it a total of 8 new slots for the new nominees. “

Meanwhile, politicians and PDP stakeholders from Nsit Ibom LGA are irked by Air. Commodore Idongesit Nkanga’s (retd) decision to channel all government appointments to his family.

Speaking to TheMail on Thursday night, some of the party stakeholders who pleaded anonymity said Nkanga’s action is quite disturbing and should not be tolerated by the current governor and future governors of the state.

“First, he nominated his wife to be considered as commissioner. We rejected it. It seems he has made himself the only cock that crows in Nsit Ibom. He takes virtually everything allotted Nsit Ibom. Governor confers with him on almost everything that concerns Nsit Ibom. After his wife’s nomination created much furor and the governor asked him to nominate another person other than her, he still went and nominated his younger brother who is currently SSA to the governor. Elder Amanam Nkanaga was the governor’s SA and was later promoted to Senior Special Assistant. One of his other brothers is the PDP Vice Chairman in Nsit Ibom Chapter. Now that Amanam would relinquish his position as SSA, that slot might not come to Nsit Ibom again. Is that not greed? Such nepotism is only possible because the governor has too much respect for him”, one of the stakeholders said.

It’s been also confirmed that the nominees would likely be screened and confirmed during House plenary next Thursday. This is after they must have all gone through the mandatory security screening.