BEVERLY HILLS, May 31, (THEWILL) – Cross River State’s Governor Ben Ayade has given the boot to four commissioners from his cabinet and five others with unspecified portfolios.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, the Governor directed all those affected to return government property in their possession with immediate effect.
The affected commissioners are: Mike Usibe (New City Development), Rita Ayim (Women Affairs), Asu Okang (Information) and Ntufam Etim (Climate Change).
However, one of the commissioners, Ntufam Etim, had reportedly already resigned his appointment on May 21, 2021, before his “sack” this Monday.
Ayade also relieved five other appointees of their appointments: Leo Inyambe, Orok Duke, Victor Okon, John Bassey, and Mbeh Agbiji.
While no reason was given for the Governor’s action, he thanked the affected commissioners and appointees for their services to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.
They were, however, asked to return the government properties and vehicles in their possession to the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Ayade became the second Governor in six months to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He was elected as the Governor of Cross River State in 2015 on the platform of PDP, and got re-elected in 2019 flying the flag of the main opposition party.
The Governor, however, announced his defection to the ruling party on May 20, making him the leader of APC in the state.
He made the announcement following a closed-door meeting with six APC governors and some members of the National Assembly who visited him at the Government House in Calabar.
Timipre Sylva, who is the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and members of the State Executive Council were also at the meeting.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State had also announced his defection from PDP to APC on November 17, 2020.
He alleged that the South-East region had suffered injustice in the opposition party, a claim that was swiftly denied by the PDP.
