Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has cautioned stakeholders against lobbying for the inclusion of specific names in the upcoming list of commissioner-nominees.
Addressing a farewell dinner for his outgoing cabinet in Uyo on Friday night, Governor Eno made it clear that any name pushed forward through influential recommendations would automatically lose its chances of consideration.
Governor Eno described the circulated list of nominees as fake, emphasizing that he had not finalized any names for the new executive council.
He assured the public that the official list would be submitted to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for approval in the coming week.
He warned stakeholders: “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.”
Reflecting on the dissolution of the foundation cabinet 20 months into his tenure, Eno expressed gratitude to his team for their contributions. At the valedictory meeting, the outgoing executive council members themselves moved a motion to dissolve the cabinet, which the governor affirmed.
Despite the emotional nature of the occasion, Governor Eno urged the new cabinet members to prepare for a challenging tenure. He announced plans to launch 31 new state projects by March, highlighting the need for a focused and hardworking team. “It will not be a time for joke or play,” he warned.
In his farewell address, Governor Eno lauded the outgoing team for their dedication to the ARISE Agenda and assured them of future opportunities. “You are not sacked; you are being celebrated and prepared for the next assignment,” he said.
