In the midst of political turmoil in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel has fired his Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyangeyen.
Mr. Inyangeyen, who has had political differences with Governor Emmanuel, was sacked on Tuesday via a letter from the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem.
Mr. Inyangeyen, a long-time friend of Governor Emmanuel, was initially appointed commissioner of work before being promoted to chief of staff.
The government, on the other hand, claimed the dismissal was due to “competencies.”
“Given the urgent need to match skillset and competencies to the task of maintaining the momentum of economic development in peace, your services are no longer required and you are hereby relieved of your position as chief of staff,” the SSG, Mr. Ekuwem said in the letter.
“You are therefore directed to hand over all property of the government in your position, to the Secretary to the State Government,” he added.
Mr. Inyangeyen recently expressed interest in running for the Senate in the Akwa Ibom South District in 2023, despite Governor Emmanuel’s wishes, who, along with other political leaders in the state, zoned the seat to the Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.
Furthermore, the former chief of staff is said to be supporting Bassey Albert, a state senator, in his bid for governor against Governor Emmanuel’s preferred successor, Eno Umo.
Mr Inyangeyen’s security officials were removed from the scene on Sunday after he said during a political rally on Saturday that he was not to blame for the state’s road project’s failure.
In his remarks, some politicians accused him of criticizing the governor.
