The commissioners, Mr Bassey Akpan, who had manned the finance ministry since 2007 and Chief Effiong Abia, erstwhile commissioner for rural development, who joined Akpabio's government in 2012. They are rumoured to be nursing gubernatorial ambitions.
But a statement signed by the state commissioner for information and communications, Mr Aniekan Umana, said the commissioners as well as the six board chairman were relieved of their posts because of Akpabio's desire "to reinvigorate the machinery of government and drive further the uncommon transformation programme of the state."
Umana said the governor "had directed the affected commissioners to hand over to the permanent secretaries in the ministries. The governor however thanks the former Commissioners for their contributions to the development of the State and wishes them success in their future endeavors."
The statement did not however give any reason for the sack of the board chairmen; Obong Sunny Udom of the Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Ltd (APICO); Mr Patrick Ifon of the moribund Akwa Ibom Water Company; Obong Dan Akai of the Akwa Ibom Newspapers Corporation,Mr Felix Nyong of the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation; and Abom Tony Esu of the Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development. Most of the boards and commissions were inaugurated last year.
But Daily Sun learnt that some of the board members were not keying into the zoning formula brought about by the state PDP through the state government.
It was leant that government frowned on the attitude of the board chairmen who attended the recently held PDP elders/stakeholders meeting at Amazing Grace Event Centre, on the day Uyo senatorial district leaders were declaring their support for Eket senatorial district to produce the next governor.
Obong Sunny Udom said the six of them were not surprised about the sack in view of their being staunch supporters of Umana Okon Umana's gubernatorial aspiration.
"I'm not surprised; the six of us were signatories to the document that called for a free and fair election. We said we don't support zoning rather let the electorate decide who should be the governor. I'm the director general of Umana Umana Campaign Organization, so I have no regrets," Udom said.
Culled from The Sun
Thanks
