The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has criticised Governor Umo Eno’s 27 commissioner nominees and special advisers list, alleging that the appointments were based on political favouritism rather than merit.
In a statement issued in Uyo on Tuesday, the chairman of the APC’s Media Network, Iniobong John, described the nominations as “a second chance for failure,” accusing the governor of recycling individuals who performed poorly in previous roles.
The state governor recently sent a list of 27 commissioner and special adviser nominees to the state House of Assembly, urging the lawmakers to give it a prompt response
According to the party, the list is populated by individuals who have failed in their previous roles either as former lawmakers, former chairmen, or former commissioners, adding that by recycling them, the governor threw away merit to compensate a few cronies and friends.
“Former National Assembly members, former Council Chairmen, former House of Assembly members, and former Commissioners, who performed woefully in the past, have now been refurbished and given another opportunity to fail,” the statement said.
The APC questioned how certain nominees were able to make the list and wondered how their inclusion aligns with the governor’s “Peace Sustenance” agenda, citing their records of divisive rhetoric and allegations of political violence in their former positions.
The statement added, “Except for a few appointees from academia and one from the health sector, the list would have been entirely populated by yesterday’s men and women who have failed to justify the confidence placed in them in bygone years.
“One would have thought that after serving out their tenures in previous offices, they would quietly return home to avoid further infuriating the populace. Instead, they have returned with aplomb to fail us once again.
“Furthermore, as Gov Umo Eno promotes his much-hyped “Peace Sustenance” agenda, we must point out that certain appointments, in our view, do not align with the principles of inclusivity, integrity, and effective governance.”
The party condemned what it described as the marginalisation of the Oro Federal Constituency, which it said has only two commissioners representing five Local Government Areas, compared to Eket LGA’s two nominees.
The APC further raised concerns about the influence of ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel on the current administration, suggesting that the nominations undermined democratic principles and the people’s aspirations for a transparent and accountable government.
The party reiterated its call for merit and accountability in governance and pledged its commitment to promoting good governance, economic development, and security in Akwa Ibom State in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
