From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River Monday announced indefinite suspension of 20 of his 40 cabinet members for failure to attend an important public function.
This was contained in a statement signed Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Michael Aniah.
According to the statement the State Governor approved the suspension of seven commissioners and 13 special advisers for failure to attend the World’s AIDS Day anniversary walk Sunday. The four-Kilometre World AIDS Day walk, which also herald the flag-off of the state’s Annual Calabar Festival Dec.1, was attended by Imoke and other cabinet members.
According to the statement the affected officials included the Commissioner for Justice, Mr Attah Ochinke; Commissioner for Finance, Etim Takis Caifas; Commissioner for Women, Mrs. Edak Iwuchukwu; and the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs Patricia Endeley. The Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Sandy Onor, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. James Aniyom and Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Elemi Etowa, were also affected.
Others are the Special Adviser on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Eja Dons Eseghe; Special Adviser on Tourism, Mr Wilfred Usani, Special Adviser on Religious Affairs; Eyo Okpo Ene; Special Adviser on Special Duties; Mr. Fabian Okpa. Also affected were the Special Adviser Forestry and Biodiversity, Ntufam Gabe Odu-Oji; Special Adviser on Investment, Dr. Gerald Adah; Special Adviser, Political and Legislative Matters, Mr. Fred Osim; Special Adviser Legal, Mr Mark Obi, were also affected.
Equally suspended are the Special Adviser, NGO, Mrs. Margaret Johnson Ebokpo, Special Adviser on ICT , Mr Odo Effiong; and Special Adviser on Mineral Resources; Mr Effiong Bassey. Others are the Special Adviser Strategy and Planning, Prof. Idem Temple and Special Adviser on Debt Management, Mrs Francisca Nkoyo Effiong.
The announcement directed the affected cabinet members to hand over to their permanent secretaries or the most senior officers in their respective Ministries and Departments and agencies.
Meanwhile, the 2013 Calabar Festival has been flagged off with a colourful lighting of the Christmas tree, reputed to be the tallest in Africa The ceremony was performed by Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River performed the tree lighting ceremony Sunday midnight at the Millennium Park Calabar.
The event, which lasted about two hours, was accompanied with fireworks and performances by up and coming musicians discovered during auditions for the 2013 Festival.
Ace comedian, I Go Die, entertained participants including the First Lady, Obioma Liyel Imoke, Minister for Tourism, Mr Edem Duke, Nollywood stars – Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Gideon Okeke and Bryan Okwara. Other dignitaries at the event included a former Military Governor of the state, Air Vice Marshal Gregory Agboneni.
Imoke said: “We remain that place in Nigeria where every Nigerian would be proud to be. Every Nigerian will say there is one state in Nigeria where you can see the governor walking about, associating with his people, he is not afraid, he is part of the crowd, and the people are warm, happy and beautiful.”
He urged the youths to make use of their talents and recalled that like music star, Iyanya, many talents were discovered yearly during the festival.
Imoke said that the tree lighting exercise would “go down in the record of Nigeria that next to the tallest and biggest flag in Nigeria is the tallest Christmas tree.”
On his part, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, stressed the need for government to galvanise resources and train young artistes. He said that such artists could be made to use their creative abilities to better their lots.
Edem Duke also urged the people of Cross River to explore their creative talents that they could showcase to the world instead of waiting on government to provide their needs.
“These dancers and drummers can win for us the future, bring resources to our families and glory to our state. We must establish a self-believe, believe in yourselves, and believe that if you are such a good dancer or drummer, there is a future for you,” he said.
He said that the siting of more than N2 billion project for a creative Academy in Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area remain was instructive.
“It is also a clear testimony of how important government hold the works of creative Arts among youths in the area,” he said.
Edem Duke also used the opportunity to announce the offer of 10 scholarships by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to provide opportunities for people to learn creative Arts of carnival. He disclosed that the scholarship would be available from next year, adding that the Calabar carnival has transformed from a street party into an economy-boosting event.
At the flag-off ceremony, Mr. U. K. Eke, Executive Director Public Sector South, First Bank of Nigeria, lauded Cross River government for its initiative which has also united people from several cultures and brought happiness to Nigerians.
“The Calabar Carnival has grown to be one of the biggest tourist attractions in Nigeria and Africa at large. It has enhanced the economic development of Cross River and our great nation,” he said.
He assured that First Bank having established its second branch in Nigeria in Calabar since 1900, will continue to partner with the state to boost social, cultural and economic gains.
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