The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emanuel has sacked his chief of staff, Mr. Ephraim Inyangeyen.
It was gathered that Inyangeyen’s fall was connected with his declaration to contest for Eket senatorial seat in 2023.
He and the governor hail from Onna local government area under Eket senatorial district (Akwa Ibom South).
The senatorial zone is made up of Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo, Onna, Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno, Okobo, Oron, Udung Uko, Urueoffong/Oruko and Mbo local government areas.
In a letter dated February 22, 2022 and marked, SSG/AKS/S/200/VOL.1/406, the governor expressed “profound appreciation” to his former chief of staff for his immense contribution to the “development of our dear state” but stated that “given the urgent need to match skill set and competencies to the task of maintaining the momentum of economic development in peace, your services are no longer required.”
The three-paragraph letter entitled “Appreciation of your service’ and signed by secretary to the state government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem and addressed to Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, reads: “On behalf of His Excellency, the Governor, government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, I write to convey to you His Excellency, the Governor’s profound appreciation of the worthy contributions you made to the development of our dear State while you served as chief of staff to the governor.
“However, given the urgent need to match skill set and competencies to the task of maintaining the momentum of economic development in peace, your services are no longer required and you are hereby relieved of your position, as Chief of Staff ( CoS) to His Excellency, the Governor with immediate effect. You are therefore directed to handover all property of government in your possession, to the Secretary to State Government.
“Please, accept the assurances of His Excellency, the Governor’s goodwill and highest regards as you proceed to other endeavours.”
It was gathered that Inyangeyen had declared to run for the senate in 2023, despite the governor, alongside some political leaders in Akwa Ibom State, zoning the particular race to an area outside where the aide hails from.
According to Premium Times, Inyangeyen met on Friday, February 18 with his extended family to officially inform them of his intention to contest the senatorial election for the Akwa Ibom South.
Governor Emmanuel and others have agreed to cede the position to Ikot Abasi federal constituency which is in Eket senatorial district.
After Emmanuel declined interest in the senate race, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders were reported to have met in January and took a decision to zone the senate race to Ikot Abasi federal constituency.
It was learnt that those who were at the meeting included Ekuwem, a former Nigerian ambassador to Russia and Belarus, Mr. Assam Assam, former commissioner for information, Mr. Chris Abasi-Eyo and the host and former minister of land and urban development, Mr. Nduese Essien.
Also at the meeting was Inyangeyen, who, according to a source, neither spoke nor opposed the resolution.
