March 15, (THEWILL) – Two Commissioners in the Akwa Ibom State executive cabinet had on Monday, March 14th, resigned their appointment for reasons traceable to the 2023 gubernatorial race.
The two executive cabinet members are; Mr Akan Okon, Commissioner For Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport and Rt. Hon. Sunday Ibuot, Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and ManPower Planning respectively.
A statement issued by Mr Akan Okon and made available to THEWILL in Uyo, stated that his resignation was to enable him focus on his aspiration for the 2023 governorship election.
THEWILL recalls that the incumbent governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, had announced Pastor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources as his preferred successor, when his tenure elapses in 2023.
THEWILL also gathers on good authority that until the end of 2020, Okon, who hails from Itu Federal Constituency, where the much agitated micro zoning of 2023 Governorship seat favours; was Emmanuel’s preferred candidate until unresolvable misunderstandings set in.
The former Commissioner in his statement thanked Governor Emmanuel for the privilege given him to partake in the execution of his Divine Mandate and Completion Agenda.
He also thanked the people of the state for the support and encouragement which motivated him in the discharge of the tasks and assignments given to him, especially with regards to the envisioned three gateways (Land, Air and Sea).
The statement in parts, “Today, Monday, 14th March, 2022, I formally tender my resignation from the Akwa lbom State Executive Council as the Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport.
It was an honour and great privilege to serve our State under the leadership of Mr Udom Emmanuel at such an important phase in our history. I am grateful to God almighty and His Excellency, for giving me the opportunity to serve.
“I also thank the good people of our dear state, for their support and encouragement which motivated me in the discharge of all the tasks and assignments given to me, especially with regards to the envisioned three gateways (Land, Air and Sea) for the rapid development of our dear state and creation of job opportunities for our teeming and very enterprising youths.
“Throughout the duration of my service, I strived diligently to interpret His Excellency’s vision for our State as encapsulated in the Divine Mandate Agenda and Completion Agenda respectively.
“As the scripture admonishes “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…” Eccl. 3: It is my deep conviction that this is the best time to take a leave in order to focus on my aspiration for the 2023 Governorship election.”
Mr Sunday Ibuot, who said his resignation was on personal grounds, had served in Udom Emmanuel’s cabinet as Secretary Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Hon Special Adviser, Political and Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, before the latest appointment.
Ibuot’s resignation may not be unconnected to the aspiration of the Senator Representing Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Bassey Albert, as he was the Director General (DG) of his campaign in 2015, when he first aspired to succeed the then Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio.
The two resignations came barely two weeks after the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, was sacked.
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