BY TONY YOUNG

WITH Governor Godswill Akpabio’s submission of his commissionership nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening, Akwa Ibom State is set for round of politicking.

While Akwa Ibom political terrain is expected to witness another round of developmental projects, it may perhaps be a different approach all together as some new hands will come on board as helmsmen of the various Ministries to join what politicians in the state have chosen to call the Akpabio Class of 2011.

Most of the Commissioners got re-nominated irrespective of their performance and others were removed regardless of their accomplishments in their respective Ministries.

Among commissioners re-nominated are the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Abert Akpan;  Information Commissioner, Mr. Aniekan Umana; Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Bar. Emmanuel Enoidem; Commissioner for Works Mr. Don Etim; and Special Adviser on Technical Matters, Engr. Etido Inyang.

Other returning commissioners who were members of the Akpabio Campaign Organization, are Paul Ekpo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who was a member of the Mobilisation Committee; Mr. Eno Akpan, Commissioner for Agriculture; Mr Austin Mbeh, Commissioner for Tourism, who was of the publicity Committee; Mrs. Eunice Thomas, Commissioner for Women Affairs, who was of the Women Mobilization Committee; and Pastor Onyong Asuquo, Commissioner Youth and Sports, who was of the Security and Youth Mobilization Committee.

The rest are Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim; Sunny Anyang, of the Rural Development; Barr. Bassey Antai, Commissioner for Lands; Dr. Louisa Ukpe, Commissioner for Health; Mr. John Harry, Commissioner for Environment; Barr. Goddy Umoh, Commissioner for Economic Development; and Mr. Enobong Umoetuk, Commissioner for Special Duties.

Aside performance, they were re-nominated for either a work well done or for security considerations to the image of the government of the day.

Bassey Akpan
The Finance Commissioner, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan is hardworking and has put in so much in support of  the governor. He came in from the Banking sector, and took risks to ensure that Akpabio won the battle for his first election in 2007.

He came into the Akpabio cabinet and soon became a household name, covering several other areas for his fellow commissioners who were not too wonderful.

Emmanuel Enoidem
Barr. Enoidem is another great performer. He came in as commissioner in the first term as a member of the party exco and his robust contributions could not be ignored. He soon became a member of the Akpabio kitchen cabinet and worked tirelessly to ensure the success of his boss at all levels. He is as far as Akpabio is concerned a diehard.

He does not believe in any other person for now except Akpabio and is as meticulous and thorough in his stewardship as the word thorough itself. One most outstanding thing about him is that he is extremely very time conscious. He however sometimes oversteps his bounds.

Aniekan Umana
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umana is indeed a square peg in a square hole. He has helped the governor at times to sleep with both eyes closed and at other times with both eyes wide open. He knows the nitty gritty of the job and explores it to his best advantage.  He has people who can also vouch for him based on his performance. He however slants on issues of ethnicity.

Don Etim
Don Etim, the Works Commissioner did not have much problems serving in Akpabio’s cabinet apart from issues bordering on security. He is allegedly dreaded by many who mistakenly or deliberately torch his nerve to get a reaction. He is, according to many who have crossed his path, a real don. He is nonetheless capable of delivering his responsibilities without much error.

Austin Mbeh
Mr. Austin Mbeh came on the back of the PDP when it was necessary to effect a change in the last cabinet. He was the most favoured candidate of the State party Chairman to check and clip the political wings of former Deputy Governor, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong, whose interest in the PDP Reform group was likely to create some hiccups for the party back home. He has not yet made any serious mark in the government.

Eunice Thomas
Eunice Thomas, who came under the slot of the Youth Caucus is not by any means a push over in the government of the day and has managed to keep her head afloat. She has made her mark in her little way being able to galvanize the women into a vanguard in  support of the governor.

Paul Ekpo
Mr. Paul Ekpo has returned as commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He was nominated by a political mogul from Etinan, his Local Government Area, Chief Jackson Devos.

Eno Akpan
Mr. Eno Akpan, the Commissioner for Agriculture is not a misfit as described by politicians. His age and energy could perhaps play key role in his inability to work at the speed the current administration is moving to fulfill campaign promises.

Etido Inyang
To optmise his achievements, Akpabio may need deploy Engr. Etido Inyang to a key ministry where he would have the ample opportunity to exhibit his talents. He is feared to be grossly underutilized by the kind of acumen he is rumoured to be endowed with.

If the likes of Inyang were up to five in the state, observers said they would make Akpabio’s job of governance less cumbersome. He is the only one in the cabinet enjoying a clean bill of health from all politicians across board.

Onyong Asuquo
Pastor Onyong Asuquo, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, is considered as a hardliner for Akpabio.

Sunny Anyang
Sunny Anyang was appointed Commissioner for Rural Development by the influence of the State Secretary to government, who had been working closely with him until the opportunity came.

Ekpenyong Ntekim
Ekpenyong Ntekim, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General was brought to government by Don Etiebet, who has had the benefit of working with him right from the days of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and later All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Ntekim had worked for Etiebet, when there was no reward coming from the previous parties and the master suddenly saw the opportunity compensating a loyal servant of long years. He is however not a man to push aside in legal matters and is perhaps facing the greatest challenge of having to show cause why the services of a useful staff like him should be retained in the case between Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State on the 86 oil wells battle of the two states.

Louisa Ukpe
Dr. Louisa Ukpe who was among those not too lucky to be promoted to the Akpabio Class of 2011 is said to have become known to Akpabio in their days in the University of Calabar.

As of press time, the State House of Assembly had almost screened all the  nominees except a few of them like a certain Sam Frank, special assistant to the Secretary to the State Government, who was asked to drop his State Assembly political ambition for such reward.

With the crop of commissioners returned, it is to be how far the Akpabio administration will go in his second term in terms of delivering democracy dividends.