By Bayo Etema, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has sacked his Chief of Staff, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, with immediate effect.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem on Tuesday in Uyo.
In yang-eyen is believed to be a victim of the power tussle in the state.
The statement stated that the government needed someone with competence to maintain the spate of economic development in peace, hence the removal of the of Inyang-eyen.
The statement read, “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 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,” the SSG stated.
The sacked Chief of Staff, who is a close ally of Governor Emmanuel from the same Onna local government has served in his government for about six years.
He was first appointed Commissioner for Works during Udom’s first tenure and was retained in the same position during his second term and later made the Chief of Staff last year.
The duo felt out recently following the announcement of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno as a preferred candidate to succeed Governor Emmanuel during 2023 poll. Inyang-eyen was rumoured to have supported the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East, Bassey Albert Akpan to become the next governor of the state.
Inyang-eyen, while declaring his interest to contest for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial seat in the 2023 general election had indicted Governor Udom Emmanuel and the State Accountant-General over some abandoned road projects in his community.
