●Alleges marginalization of Oro Nation
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has expressed deep concern over Governor Umo Eno’s newly constituted State Executive Council members, describing it as “a second chance for failure.”
The party, in a press release dated Monday, February 17, issued by the APC Media Network, chaired by Otuekong Iniobong John, said the new EXCO members as nominated by the governor, was “a war council and a recipe for disaster.” and that their appointments were based on “political compensation for friends and cronies”, rather than on merit.
The party stated that “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 APC specifically highlighted the appointments of Hon. Aniekan Umanah and Hon. Anthony Luke (Aluko), alleging that their past records were replete with divisive political rhetoric.
The party questioned how these appointments aligned with Governor Umo Eno’s “Peace Sustenance” agenda.
The release reads thus in part, “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 the appointments of Hon. Aniekan Umanah and Hon. Anthony Luke (Aluko) to the State Executive Council deviate from this policy.
“Aniekan Umanah, during his previous tenure as Commissioner for Information, was widely known for using his office to engage in divisive rhetoric, targeting leaders of the APC and exacerbating ethnic tensions within the state “Such appointments, in our view, do not align with the principles of inclusivity, integrity, and effective governance.”
Furthermore, the APC condemned what it called the marginalisation of Oro Federal Constituency, which has only two commissioners representing five Local Government Areas, while Eket LGA on its own, had two nominees.
The party also emphasised its commitment to promoting good governance, economic development, and security in Akwa Ibom State, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
