By Ekanem Wylie
Reasons have emerged on why Gov Bassey Otu is reportedly contemplating to reshuffle his cabinet. The reported reshuffling, it was learnt, is causing panic among various cadres of appointees- commissioners, special advisers, special assistants, amongst others, especially those with questionable performance index.
PillarToday reliably gathered that the impending cabinet reshuffle is sequel to reports at the Governor’s disposal believed not in favour of many of the appointees.
This may have explained why Gov Otu directed the appointees, last week, to prepare and submit their scorecards in a few days’ time.
A reliable source from the Governor’s Office, who demanded anonymity, told our reporter that “the directive was based on reports reaching the Governor from highly placed stakeholders that most of his cabinet members are not worth their salt.”
The source further revealed that highly influential party chieftains are dismayed over the poor attitude to work exhibited by most of the commissioners and special advisers.
He pointed out that the Governor was, at a certain point, pissed off after being told of how some commissioners, who now see themselves as demigods, elected to use their privileged positions to intimidate ordinary Cross Riverians.
According to our source, the last straw that broke the camel’s back and which finally moved the Governor into action, was the negative report from the field during the last local government elections.
In the reports, some political appointees were accused of abandoning their polling units without even bothering to cast their votes on the belief that as the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was sure to claim victory.
“Apart from refusing to vote in the last elections, some of the political appointees were reported to have gone ahead to pry into the logistics provided for elections on the basis that as appointees, they were the highest-ranked party stakeholders in their respective wards, a situation which prominent party stakeholders saw as inimical to the Governor’s philosophy,” he stated.
A party chieftain in the state secretariat, who also did not want his name in print, confided in our correspondent that most appointees do not have respect for party officials as they see themselves as sacred cows who tower above party exco members even when the gathering is purely a party affair.
“Except the Governor takes a decisive action to reshape his cabinet, the dead woods in the administration would continue to see themselves as untouchables. Let the Governor direct his appointees to talk to the media on their achievements since most heads of ministries and government departments are behaving as if they are not accountable to anyone,” he stated.
Baring his mind also, a member of the State Elders Forum, who did not want to be named, identified the manner the State Executive council was constituted as the root cause of the problem.
According to him, “the Governor loaded his cabinet with politicians without a mixture of technocrats. It is normal that politicians would see their appointments as reward for service rendered during electioneering campaigns but a technocrat has a name to protect and would naturally bring his wealth of experience to bear on whatever portfolio is assigned to him.”
As the nightmarish socio-economic reality of the country continues to trouble all Nigerians, Cross Riverians are praying that God would give the administration the wisdom to proffer solutions to ameliorate their suffering even if it means sacking under-performing aides.
“If sacking all of them is a solution to this suffering, so be it,” Chief Arikpo Bassey, who our Correspondent spoke with, submitted.
