Few Weeks To Governorship Election, Ayade Swears In First Non-Indigene Muslim Commissioner, 12 Others

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has reshuffled his cabinet, and sworn in 13 new commissioners, four months to his exit from office.

Naija News reports that the swearing-in ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s office in Calabar, the state capital.

The new commissioners occupied positions left by their former appointees, who left either to vie for elective offices or resigned following the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Eric Anderson, is now Commissioner for Information and Orientation, a position that was vacant for over two years since the resignation of the former Commissioner, Asu Okang, who refused to defect to APC.

A Kano State-born, Adamu Musa was also appointed as a commissioner for Inter Governmental Affairs. Musa becomes the first non-indigene Muslim to be appointed a commissioner in the state.

Other new commissioners and their portfolios are: Ekwele Agube (Sustainable Development), Prince Sunday Williams Awara (Social Housing), Wogor Umari (Homeland Security), Dr. Hippolytus Lukputa (Water Resources), Patrick Ebam (Special Duties), Okama Inyang (Infrastructure).

The rest are Danet Eyo Nsing (Climate Change), Goddy Eta (Finance), Arikpo Pius Edet (Science and Technology), Ntufam Ekpenyong Effiom Iso (Culture and Tourism), Prof. Gertrude Njar (Women Affairs), Alhaji Adamu Uba Musa( Inter-Governmental Affairs) and Oliver Orok, Commissioner for Sustainable Development now Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Ayade urged the new commissioners to work assiduously to ensure that his administration finished strong.

He said: “Your coming on board is not by accident; you have been carefully selected based on your integrity and competence to bring your wealth of experiences to bear on our administration,” he said.

“I, therefore, charge you to work assiduously to ensure that we finish strong as an administration. Your jobs are all cut out for you, I expect that you make our dear state proud.”

While responding on behalf of the new Commissioners, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, who replaced APC’s National Woman Leader, Dr Betta Edu, as Commissioner for Health, commended the governor for finding them worthy to join you in the crystallization of Cross River State, changing and transforming our state for the betterment of all Cross Riverians.

Ekpenyong, who was before her new appointment the Director-General of Cross River Primary Health Care Development Agency, pledged that she and her colleagues would represent the governor well in their various ministries and work in line with his vision and plan for the state.