Ifere Paul|2 November 2015|5:00am
*Eric Akpo, SA on Dual Carriage = Brother
*Harriet Akpo, SA to the First Lady = (Wife to Eric Ekpo earlier mentioned)
*Philomena Inyang, SA to the First Lady.
*Dr. Inyang is a Commissioner Nominee (Husband to
Philomena). Philomena is a younger sister to Ayade.
*SA on Tourism is a guy married to Ayade's sister too.
*Meanwhile, we have SSA on Tourism in person of Tom Ikpeme who just came back from South Africa to arrange the Calabar Carnival with Channels O. Ikpeme is an event organizer and manager and knows lots about tourism. But the SA -Tourism was, until his appointment a roadside Carpenter.
But because he's married to Ayade's sister, he got an SA job even though we have a qualified SSA.
*Dr Frank Ayade is also making his own appointments in his brother's cabinet and his appointees get paid in hard cash.
Frank's wife elder brother has just landed a good job in Obudu LGA as Chief Protocol Officer to the
Chairman. Hmmm. The Ayade magic.
*Emmanuel Ateb, who is also married to Jane Ayade, has recently been made an SA. Chai!! Guys dey marry the Ayade girls oo. Abi Na
dem girls dey marry over the guys?
It is not a crime to appoint family members into a cabinet. But having more than two family members
is morally wrong. Governor Ben Ayade should have been better advised that such arrangement does not tell well of his willingness to develop the State beyond family ties. While it is a good intention to develop one's family, Ayade should have done so within a morally
justifiable way. There are certainly many ways for the governor to empower the family without rousing
the rousers.
For example, the SA on tourism should have been better fixed and connected if Ayade had given him
all the contracts of roofing all the new cities he intends to develop. That's better money coming into
the family, and also making use of a family member's skill. Such a member would have been better appreciated by the general public for delivering on such feat. That will also may have gone a long way to make the family member richly proud.
It cannot be a coincidence that Ayade forgot that there's a sealed contract from Ireland to develop
new cities. Or, is it social housing scheme they called it? Unless, such arrangements were not made after all.
One of these SAs mentioned here is a road side mechanic. It is a pity that Caterpillar equipment of
Leophina are lying broken in Ogoja while one mechanic that should have been attached to Leophina mechanic crew is allowed to stay in
Calabar as SA. This is sure a misplaced priority.
Ayade does not know how to "put square pegs in square holes".
Ifere Paul
Is an Environmental Right Activist/Public Policy Analyst.
