By Chioma Onuegbu & Tom Moses
Uyo — GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Tuesday, swore in 18 Commissioners and two Special Advisers to constitute the next State Executive Council.

They are the 20  persons whose names were sent to the state House of Assembly by the governor a few weeks ago for confirmation.

The House ratified all the names last Friday after the screening exercise.

Udom Emmanuel

The Commissioners are Uwemedimo Nwoko, Mr Akan Okon, Aniekan Umanah, Etido Inyang, Godwin Ntukude, Aniekan Akpan, Dr Dominic Ukpong, Prince Uwem Etuk, Enobong Uwah, and Dr Iniobong Essien.

Others are Emmanuel Enoidem, Ekong Sampson, Dr Matthew Ekaette, Victor Antai, Elizabeth Obot, Emmanuel Atting, Emmanuel Ibiok,  Dr Glory Edet, and Monday Uko while Mr Eyina Ekpenyong and Anietie Etuk were sworn in as Special Advisers.

In his brief remark after the ceremony, Governor Emmanuel congratulated the new appointees and charged them to be committed to the development of the state.

“Your selection was based purely on merit. If you are a returnee, your records spoke for you and you must endeavour not to derail,” he said.

Expectations are high and you cannot afford to fail the people. We want results and not excuses. Do not fail to deliver accordingly. We have vowed to surround this government with the best hands irrespective of where they come from.”

He clarified that the reason he reappoint some of the immediate past cabinet members was because most of them handled the key projects that needed to be completed.

‘Most of people that handled some key projects in the state are part of the new cabinet. What we are doing is in the interest of the people because it will take lesser time to complete those projects yet to be completed. And we need to complete what we have started,” he added.