* New SSG may emerge
BARRING any last minute manoeuvre, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel might carry out a minor cabinet reshuffle that might see the Secretary to Government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem out of the administration.
Very dependable sources in Government House Uyo indicated that the governor is set to dissolve the state executive council at the end of today’s cabinet meeting scheduled for 5pm.
NaijaTimes gathered that the governor has been working towards taking his Completion Agenda to a smooth landing by strengthening his critical workforce and energising the party’s campaign structures towards the 2023 elections.
One of the sections the governor believes should be strengthened for the battle ahead is the cabinet, which those close to him say must be strong enough to carry both the weight of winding down his administration and pushing electioneering campaigns towards 2023.
Already, the Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) which was inaugurated no long ago to kick-start grassroots mobilisation ahead of the general elections is believed to be powered by the governor because it is an offshoot of his Divine Mandate (DM) structure that saw him through the two elections for the first and second term.
During the commissioning of the new flyover in the Uyo – Etinan axis last month, the special guest of honour and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had thrown a challenge to him in respect leaving behind a worthy successor.
Information gathered from Government House in Uyo this afternoon indicates that one of the serving commissioners among the last batch of appointees might emerge as the new SSG.
The appointment would give a clearer picture of the arrangements for Emmanuel’s successor, as the office has become very strategic for the emergence of a successor to the governorship seat. Obong Umana Okon Umana while SSG during the Godswill Akpabio administration was primed to succeed the uncommon transformer governor but political schisms paved the way for Udom Emmanuel who was then seconded to the state from Zenith Bank for a major project the bank was facilitating.
Emmanuel went from that seat to become the governor after a controversial party primary election that saw Umana and some critical stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, including Senator Ita Enang leaving for the All Progressives Congress.
Already some strong members of the PDP in the state are lined up for the governorship race. They Include Senator Effiong Bob, Senator Bassey Albert, Hon. Onofiok Luke, Pastor Umo Eno and Udom Inoyo.
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