By Abasi Ita, Calabar
Indications are rife that the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey will swear in the 31 commissioners cleared by the State House of Assembly tomorrow, Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
Sources close to Government House confided in Summit Post News that the option of inaugurating the new commissioners is meant to hit the ground running and start the total repositioning of the state arising from mounting concerns over the slow pace of action from the administration.
Further probes revealed that Governor Bassey Otu is contemplating traveling overseas for investment summits expected to attract foreign businesses to the state, thus the need set up the State Executive Council to sustain the business of governance.
The new commissioners are Sen. Stephen Odey, Mr Mike Odere, Dr Justin Beshel, Hon Agnes Atsu, Hon Patrick Egbede, Hon Robert A Ewa, Dr Egbe Ayuk, Dr Beatrice lgwe, Prince Eka Williams and Mr Oden Ewa; Hon Moses Osogi, Barr. Odum Ijom Ukam, Hon Ankpo Pius, Mrs Abigail Duke, Hon Lawrencia Ita, Chief Felix Idem and Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, Ntufam Emmanuel Anum, Dr. Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata, and Hon Edema Erom.
Others include Barr. Mensah Bassey, Barr. Ededem Ani, Bishop Margaret Ene-ita, Chief Francis Ekpenyong and Dr Mathias Unimke Angioha, Mr Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo (Jr), Dr Helen Agan Isamoh, Hon Erasmus Ekpang, Hon Effiom Ekaha, Hon Kingsley Namgbe Egumi as well as Capt Inah, Eno Utum.
Competent sources hinted that Sen. Stephen Odey would be heading for Education Ministry; Barr. Ededem Ani is designated as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; while former Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Erasmus Ekpang is being favoured to grab Information and Orientation Ministry and Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk assumes Health Commissioner.
The source further hinted that Abubakar Ewa is set to handle Ministry of Local Government Affairs and Mike Odere heads for Finance Ministry. Odere is said to have been acting “unofficially” since his nomination a few weeks ago as the Finance Commissioner and has been helping the state in some financial dealings considering his rich financial background and contacts in the banking sector.
But as at the time of filling this report, some of the Commissioner nominees are still lobbying for what they described as “juicy portfolios.”