Cross River: Uproar As Otu Names Kinsman Head of Service
By Bassey Bassey
Governor Bassey Otu’s appointment of Mr. Orok Bassey Okon as the new Head of Service (HoS) of Cross River State has stirred sharp reactions within the state’s civil service, with some officers calling for a review over alleged breach of seniority and ethnic bias.
Mr. Okon’s appointment, announced on September 19 in a statement by Chief Press Secretary Linus Obogo, followed the retirement of Dr. Innocent Ebri Eteng, who was lauded for years of dedicated service.
Investigations by The Beagle News show that Mr. Okon, until now the Permanent Secretary in the Executive Chamber, is not the most senior civil servant eligible for the position. Sources within the service identified Mr. Emmanuel Egban, a seasoned administrator with versatile experience across key ministries, is one of the most senior Permanent Secretary. Also mentioned was Mrs. Rosemary Onah of the Ministry of Environment. While Onah reportedly has two years left before retirement, Okon has about five.
Insiders revealed that a committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Owan Enoh, with Dr. Eteng as member, screened five candidates for the post. Okon was eventually selected after other nominees were said to have unresolved issues in their service records.
Despite this explanation, resentment has grown among civil servants who believe the selection process was manipulated.
Some senior directors, speaking anonymously because of civil service rules, argued that the move undermined merit, seniority and equity in a multi-ethnic state.
“We are not happy with how this appointment was handled. The process appeared skewed to favour a particular group. It discourages merit and hard work, which are the hallmarks of the service, " the directors said.
Another added, “we appeal to Governor Otu to revisit this appointment and allow the most senior Permanent Secretary to take the position so that peace can return to the service.”
The debate has also spilled into the public domain. On social media, a retired civil servant alleged that the entire structure of the Cross River State Civil Service is now dominated by the Efik tribe, listing several top offices said to be held by officials from the south. He warned that such concentration could deepen resentment in the Central and Northern senatorial districts.
However, the Cross River State Consultative Forum (CRSCF), in a widely circulated statement, defended the Governor’s choice. Signed by Hon. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, the group argued that the outcry was “manufactured outrage” aimed at undermining a legitimate bid to redress years of exclusion of the southern senatorial district from key bureaucratic roles.
According to the forum, seniority in the civil service is a convention, not a law, and governors retain the discretion to appoint any qualified officer. “Governor Otu has acted within his rights and in the interest of equity,” the statement read, noting that the outgoing HoS reportedly recommended three names, including Okon.
The controversy highlights enduring tensions over ethnic balancing and meritocracy in appointments to top bureaucratic posts in Cross River State.
Whether the Governor will revisit the decision or stand firm remains to be seen as calls for reversal persist among sections of the workforce.
