By Saidu Idris
It appears the recent public endorsement of a preferred successor by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has recorded its first casualty in the state government as the governor has approved the disengagement of his Chief-of Staff, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen.
More government appointees are likely to be affected in the coming days.
His sack was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, by Comrade Ini Ememobong, Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
Inyangeyen, described as Governor Emmanuel’s close friend, has been very critical of his government lately, especially after the governor chose an aspirant that he would want to succeed him in office.
The sacked Chief-of Staff, had subsequently declared his intention to context the Senatorial election.
It was rumoured last week that his security details were withdrawn following the fractured relationship with the governor and his public utterances that were regarded as offensive to the government he was serving and disrespectful to his principal, Governor Emmanuel.
According to the Commissioner, the announcement for his sack was “contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, dated 22nd February, 2022 addressed to the former Chief of Staff.”
The letter reads in part “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.”