By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

THE Chief of Staff to Cross River State Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, has distanced himself from growing social media narratives crediting him with influencing the recent wave of government appointments, insisting that such powers belong exclusively to Governor Bassey Otu.

Ironbar, speaking through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Patrick Asuquo, described the public accolades being directed at him by some appointees as a misrepresentation of constitutional facts and an unnecessary distortion of the established hierarchy of governance.

“Appointments into government offices are the exclusive prerogative of His Excellency, the Governor. Any attempt to attribute such decisions to me is a misrepresentation of the facts,” he said.

The Chief of Staff urged all beneficiaries of the appointments to redirect their appreciation to Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, whose confidence and leadership he said made the appointments possible.

He stressed that he neither possesses nor exercises the constitutional powers of appointment vested in the Governor.

Adding that all recognition and gratitude should be accorded to my principal.

Ironbar acknowledged the honour of serving in his current capacity but was emphatic that his role is to support the administration’s objectives, not to exercise or influence executive appointments independently.

He further cautioned political appointees, party supporters, and the general public against narratives capable of creating false impressions about how government appointments are made in Cross River State

He described such stories as capable of undermining governance transparency.

The Chief of Staff reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to Governor Otu and pledged to continue discharging his duties with professionalism and humility.

Recall that Governor Otu has in recent weeks made a series of fresh appointments across key sectors of the Cross River State government.