Otu To Submit 21-Man Commissioner Nominees To Assembly Wednesday Amid Worries Over Delay
By Dominic OKOH
Baring any last minute change of heart, Governor Bassey Otu is set to submit the list of 21 names as commissioner nominees to the House of Assembly on Wednesday for screening and approval.
The delay in constituting the cabinet has created palpable tension among stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) jostling for the plum positions.
In line with the Electoral Act, Otu has barely four days to the 60 days window given for appointment of commissioners, fuelling speculations that he seems to be caught up in the power chess game.
But feelers from the Government House indicate that the Governor has compiled a twenty-one man list to be forwarded to Assembly by Wednesday for approval and only doing some finishing touches to ensure all segments are represented in the new cabinet.
The source said each local government is to have one commissioner nominee each, and one from each senatorial district while the rest not accommodated may make the Special Adviser list.
Sources close to the State Assembly Complex hinted our reporter that the leadership of the House is anxiously waiting to receive the list and would not waste time in doing the needful to get the business of the state going.
They said the Speaker is in touch with the Governor and revealed that the list would be a shocker to so many people because it would not be business as usual rather the list would be men of integrity who are committed to drive the 'People First' mantra of the Otu-led administration.
But stakeholders are getting agitated at what they described as slow pace of appointments, expressing disappointment at turn of events as they had thought the issue of who gets what and where would have been a forgone issue.
A stakeholders from the south, Asuquo Asuquo, said they are somewhat worried that almost two months after taking over the mantle of leadership the new administration is yet to submit names of commissioner nominees to the House of Assembly for approval.
Asuquo said: "It is shocking to see that Otu cannot constitute his cabinet to enable him take some policy decisions and responsibilities that demand Exco approval and for smooth running of government.
"Those of us that worked are waiting eagerly for appointments. We worked for him to emerge and cannot wait any longer. It seems he is lost in the power game."
Another stakeholder, who is a state party official and does not want his name, said: "The Ayambem-led House of Assembly approved the Governor's request for 40 Special Advisers. And he is yet to even appoint any. So, what is he waiting for or is he simply giving the impression that governance is too tough when he promised us heaven-on-earth?"
