Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has sacked his once closest political ally and Chief of Staff Chief Ephraim Inyangeyen.
Inyangeyen, once the governor’s strongest supporter and mobilizer has in recent times toed separate political lines which has pitched him against the latter while his recent public utterances suggested a wide gulf in their relationship.
A statement from the Secretary to the State Government Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem Tuesday in Uyo said his sack is not unconnected to his inability to work in tandem with set goals of the present administration.
“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.” The Statement said.
The news of his sack may not however come as a suprise to many who have followed recent political development in the state especially in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party even as it was gathered that the state government last Sunday withdrew security orderlies attached to him.
Deep cracks surfaced in their relationship when the duo began to toe separate political lines with the former COS supporting a serving Senator to succeed Emmanuel even as the governor has thrown his weight behind one of his commissioners.
This is even as it appeared that the governor is opposed to his senatorial ambition after PDP elders in his senatorial district zoned the Senate position to another constituency outside his Eket Federal Constituency.
Inyangeyen’s utterances last week when he consulted his family and stakeholders in his native ONNA local council for his senatorial aspiration, which seem to have indicted the Governor and his administration also worsened the already deteriorated relationship.
Meanwhile, the former Works Commissioner and Chief of staff has restated his committment to the completion agenda of the Governor even as he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the state.
In a statement in Uyo shortly after his sack, Inyangeyen said, “I wish to sincerely thank His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel for the opportunity he gave me to serve as Commissioner for Works and most recently as his Chief of Staff.
“I am grateful to him for having found me worthy to hold the two positions in his administration. And I am pleased I made a positive impact while I served.
“Let me also thank colleagues whom I served with in the State Executive Council and by extension the larger Exco for their support and encouragement during my time as both Commissioner for Works and Chief of Staff.
“I equally thank the good people of Akwa Ibom State for availing me the opportunity to have served them in the two capacities so mentioned. I’m deeply grateful.
“Let me restate my loyalty to His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel and my unflinching support for his completion agenda.
“I wish to state emphatically that I’ll continue to work for the betterment of our dear state wherever I find myself in future. My love for the state and our people remains unquenchable.”
