Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has sacked his Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyangeyen, amidst political tension in the state.
Inyangeyen’s sack was announced on Tuesday via a letter from the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem.
The sacked official has been having political differences with the state governor, hence the sack.
“Given the urgent need to match skillset and competences 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.
“You are therefore directed to hand over all property of the government in your position, to the Secretary to the State Government,” the SSG, Ekuwem, said in the letter.
Inyangeyen recently declared interest to contest the 2023 senatorial election for the Akwa Ibom South District, against the wishes of Governor Emmanuel who, with other political leaders in the state, zoned the seat to a different area, Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.
Inyangeyen’s security officials were withdrawn on Sunday after he said, during a political outing on Saturday, that he was not to be blamed for the non-completion of a road project in the state. Some politicians accused him of attacking the governor in the remarks.
Reacting, the former chief of staff, in a statement on Tuesday, thanked Governor Emmanuel for giving him the opportunity to serve in his administration.
He said, “I am grateful to him for having found me worthy to hold the two positions (commissioner for works and later chief of staff) in his administration. And I am pleased I made a positive impact while I served.
“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.”
