Governor Eno dissolves A/Ibom State executive council amid tension
BY THERESA DONATUS
Tensions are high in Akwa Ibom State over the announcement by Governor Umo Eno on Friday, January 10, 2025, that he has dissolved the State Executive Council.
The move, which affects all appointed commissioners and advisers, marks a shift in governance since Eno assumed office, succeeding his predecessor, Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The only exception is the Commissioner for Internal Security, General Koko Essien (retd), who heads the newly created Ministry of Internal Security.
The dissolution had been foreshadowed by Eno in a September 2024 media parley, where he expressed his intention to refresh the State Executive Council with new professionals to inject fresh ideas into governance.
The decision has not come as a complete surprise, but it has raised eyebrows, particularly as some commissioners had been in office for as long as a decade, with a few even having served under former Governor Godswill Akpabio.
READ ALSO: NUJ FCT Council condemns attack on journalist at PDP..
According to sources in the governor’s office, the valedictory council meeting held on Friday was the official event marking the dissolution of the State Executive Council.
The sources also revealed that last week, the commissioners received a “favorable handshake” from the governor, signaling the end of their tenure.
This action follows critical comments made by Governor Eno during the New Year Thanksgiving Service on January 2, 2025, when he chastised the commissioners for expressing dissatisfaction with their positions, claiming there were “no benefits” in government, yet refusing to resign.
In a pointed remark, he likened their behavior to that of a “nagging housewife” who, despite claiming her marriage was unfulfilling, has stayed for years and borne multiple children.
A farewell dinner is scheduled to honor the outgoing members of the State Executive Council, though speculation continues about the fate of those affected by the dissolution and the future direction of the state government.
As the governor prepares to introduce new officials into his cabinet, the tension surrounding the transition is palpable, with both political insiders and the public eagerly awaiting the next chapter of governance in Akwa Ibom.
