The Akwa ibom state Governor pastor Umo Eno has once again cautioned leaders and members of dissolved non-statutory boards to disengage themselves from offices and desist from acting in their erstwhile capacities, reiterating his position in the June 21, 2023 official statement that such former appointees should handover to the most senior Civil Servant in the Board, except for statutory Boards or constituted Limited Liability Companies.
The state chief executive who repeated the warning yesterday against the recalcitrant attitude of some politicians during the monthly prayer summit held in government house Chapel Uyo vowed to take decisive action against those flouting the order.
According to the governor, “I would also like to remind that we have dissolved all non statutory boards.
“You see, I am not the type that always likes to make some noise and carry everything around me because power is transient. That is why people have a lot of problem exiting power. I want to remain a very normal person in spite of my position.
“I understand that some people still go to office and write memo and send to me even after we have dissolved the board. When your salary don’t come, you will know certainly that we have dissolved the boards.
“You know traditionally, on the 29th of May, when a tenure of an Administration ends, you don’t need to be told that your tenure has ended. That is why you don’t hear us announce the dissolution of EXCO because it wasn’t necessary.
“It is however saddened that some people were still going to work. And so that they won’t sue Government for not paying them, that is why we announced that all non statutory boards be dissolved.
“Please, handover to the next person, the next civil servant or any next person. Except you are in a statutory board or you are in the Constituted Limited Liability Company. Please do well to handover and understand that your time is up, and don’t think that your coming back is mandatory.
Governor Eno who also faulted the behaviour of some stakeholders for flouting his directive on nominations by Ward leaders for appointment as his Aides, emphasized that such nominations must come from Ward Leaders to allow them free hand to nominate the ward members.
He explained that the decision was deliberate to activate involvement of grassroots in the governance by adhering to “Power to the People” mantra of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and advised the stakeholders to heed his directive on the appointment.
“The reason for asking us to bring either a PA, SA or whatever will come out with the right process. It is very intentional to show that we want to relate with the rural areas and the grassroot.
“Please, let us as the elites not destroy that good intention. Let the ward leaders, Chairmen, the Executives and Ward Elders sit in their wards and look for someone who worked in that ward, and bring their names for the appointment. All the leaders must sign, from the ward chairmen to ward elders.
“I warned, let no one person go and insist on choosing or bringing a PA from a ward that is not his own. Please don’t do that no matter how highly placed you are in government. You can’t do that .
“As an exemplary leader and someone you have elected to serve you, I am only in my ward. I don’t even go to the next ward beyond my village. But I am hearing that some big men want to influence and dictate who and which name should be brought. Please don’t do that. It is against the doctrine of our party if we want to be honest. It is our believe that power belongs to the people and let us give it to them.”
Delivering a sermon on the topic, “Have Dominion”, culled from Genesis 1:18, the General Overseer of Humility Glory Mission Worldwide, Rev. Sylvia Imoh, cautioned people in government to see their authority as an assignment by God and do his will to guard against abuse of power in operating their offices.
Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien, Political Stakeholders, the Clergy , immediate past members of the state Exco, Personal Aides to the Governor, among others attended the prayer summit.
