February 22, (THEWILL) – Chief of Staff to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, has been relieved of his office.
The sack notice was contained in a letter with reference number: SSG/AKS/S/200/VOL.1/406 22 February, 2022 and titled: Appreciation of Your Services, endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, dated 22nd February, 2022 and addressed to the former Chief of Staff.
The letter reads in part “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 the 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.
THEWILL reports that during a consultation to the Onna royal fathers on his senatorial ambition to represent Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections, Inyangeyen was asked what happened to Odio/Ikwe Road, whose contract was awarded when he was Commissioner for Works and up until now nothing has been done.
It was gathered that the Onna Paramount Ruler, Obong Solomon Inyang, was present when Inyangeyen who was the state Commissioner for Works before his last appointment, told them that his ministry processed documents sent in by contractors, disclosing that the Governor is the Chairman of Finance and General Purposes Committee (FGPC) and the governor approves payments to contractors, while the state Accountant-General makes payments to contractors.
It could be recalled that the State Government had withdrawn the security details attached to Akparawa Ephraim Inyang.
The withdrawal of Inyang’s security details was effected on Sunday, a day after the Chief of Staff’s consultations video for the Eket Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly went viral online.
During one of the consultative visits, the Chief of staff was put in the dock by the Royal Fathers, to respond to the allegations against him that he took money meant for road constructions.
Ephraim Inyang responded thus: “My fathers, because you have asked and insisted I provide an answer to your question which is like a summon, now let me reply:
“Commissioner doesn’t pay for road construction, commissioner processes documents for road construction and the Governor approves it.
“Every contractor in Akwa Ibom is paid by the accountant General, directly to the account of the contractor. No commissioner for works has access to that money. Roads have been abandoned, and falsehood spread that Ephraim Inyang ate the money and that is a lie.
“I’m demanding the elders to petition me to EFCC if I am found wanting, they should do to me what they want because 1 kobo of that money is not with me. That money is with the contractor and the contractor must account for it.”
When the video surfaced online, Ephraim Inyang’s comment did not go down well with the government of the day.
First, a section of youths led by Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters, Comrade Iwaudofia, gathered and made a video, threatening fire and brimstone if Ephraim does not retract his statement which they felt is an insult to the governor.
Iwaudofia stated that he will march six million youths to occupy Ephraim Inyang’s house, until he recants and apologises to the governor.
This is the second time in one month that the police details of the chief of staff have been withdrawn. 3 of the blue-beret wearing police officers were withdrawn from Ephraim back to Government House a few weeks ago, but were returned to their duty post same day on the orders of the IGP who was told of the development by the Chief of Staff.
Ephraim’s security aides were attached to him when he was appointed as Commissioner for Works about 7 years ago. They were still attached to him when he was appointed as Chief of Staff to the governor.
Ephraim’s ordeal THEWILL reports is not unconnected to his support for the governorship ambition of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan who is not the governor’s preferred choice for his succession agenda. It is not news that the governor has endorsed the aspiration of Commissioner for Lands, Pastor Umo Eno.
In a swift reaction to the letter, Ephraim Inyang, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for the opportunity given to him 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 the future.
“My love for the state and our people remains unquenchable”, The embattled Chief of Staff reacted.
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