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As an ardent watcher of activities of Mr Udom Emmanuel since he assumed the office of Akwa Ibom state Governor on 29th May, 2016, I can say and I want to be challenged, that Governor Emmanuel has taken full charge and responsibility of his government, judging by the list of his would-be cabinet members, as was read by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Barr Onofiok Luke today on the floor of the plenary.

According to the list, those who made up the much-expected and much-speculated list are; Mr Ephraim Inyang, Mr Akan Okon, Barr Uwemedimo Nwoko, Hon. Monday Ebong Uko, Mrs Glory Edet, PhD., Hon. Victor Antai, Dr. Iniobong Essien, Arc. Ime Okon Ekpo, Hon. Orman Esin, Mr. Linus Nkan, Paul Alexander Udofia, Prof. Eno Ikpe, Udauk Charles Udoinyang, PhD., Hon. Udo Ekpenyong, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, Mr. Idorenyin Sunday Udo, Nse Udo Essien, PhD., Mr. Charles Udo as commissioner-designates while; Barr Ekong Sampson and Mrs. Ekemini David Umoh are Special Advisers-designates.

Prior to this list being made public, there were ground swells of opinions from pundits that Governor Emmanuel might not be able to exercise independence on certain state matters, including who makes up his cabinet.

This was added to the fact that some of the dissolved cabinet members, made pundits to believe that Udom was not ‘in-charge’ of his government. They had publicly boasted at several fora of their conviction that Udom ‘must’ re-appoint them into the next cabinet, because, according to them, they have survived similar dissolution in the past and are core ‘stakeholders’ in the Udom’s administration as such, Udom cannot do without them.

But, today, I am tempted to say that Udom Emmanuel has done away with these set of ‘permanent cabinet members’ in the state. Udom has proofed beyond any reasonable doubt that he is in control of the state administration. He has also proofed everyone including my goodself wrong in this matter. He has displayed high level of independence. He has shown pundits that he has taken full charge of his government.

Governor Emmanuel has shown that no particular individual is indispensable and I salute him for it. I commend him for taking responsibility of his government.

I am satisfied with the list of the would-be cabinet members. This list is made up of technocrats, professionals and experts. These are the set of people that can actually drive the industrialization programmes of the Udom’s administration.

I congratulate the governor for carefully selecting the best team for his government that will help him deliver his electioneering campaign promises to the people of the state.

I congratulate all those who made it to the new exco and I advise them not to see themselves as superior to the over one million electorates in the state; not to see themselves as indispensable but, to see their appointments as a rare privileged to contribute to the success of the governor’s programmes and policies for the betterment of Akwa Ibom state.

Akwa Ibom Dakkada!

Franklyn Isong is a public affairs commentator

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