By Kolawole Ojebisi
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has warned stakeholders in the state against lobbying for the inclusion of their “candidates” in his list of commissioner-nominees and other appointees.
The governor said this while dismissing a list in circulation being touted as commissioner-nominees as fake.
He added that those in the list have failed already. The New Diplomat had reported how Eno sacked his pioneer cabinet 20 months after assuming office on Friday
Speaking at a farewell dinner for the sacked cabinet members on Friday night in Uyo, Eno stressed that anyone desperate to make the new cabinet, who has pushed persons of influence to recommend him for consideration, has lost his chance of being chosen.
The governor, however, said he would submit the authentic list to Akwa Ibom State House Assembly next week for clearance to reconstitute a fresh state executive council.
“Please, don’t ask anybody to contact me. My phone lines are switched off already, and they will remain switched off until names will be sent to the House of Assembly next week.
“Don’t contact me. The surest way to make anyone fail is to send me any name. To appoint people into the EXCO of government is the sole prerogative of the governor.
“There’s first 11 and he (governor) takes responsibility for bringing them on board.
“And their loyalty will be to him and to him alone. If you want anybody not to make it to the EXCO, the surest way is to send the name of the person.
“I have read speculations of those that have already made the list. Thank you for making them fail.
“I can assure this audience that I have not penciled down a name, I don’t know where they saw the name. The only person I would have probably whispered to would have been my wife but she is in Heaven.” the governor said.
