The Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Ini Ememobong, has officially resigned from the cabinet of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, following the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Eno, who recently announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gave a clear directive to members of his administration: anyone unwilling to join him in the APC should step aside.
During a State Executive Council meeting, the governor addressed his cabinet, saying:
“It’s no more news that I’m moving; if you don’t know that by now, I don’t know what else you know.”
“So, we want our commissioners and members of Excos, appointees; I am told that some of you are saying that you will not come, you are free, absolutely free not to join me, but you won’t be in my state executive council.”
He added:
“So, you better just be prepared to resign the day I announce that I’m moving because you are an appointee and your loyalty is to me. You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti party, it’s not a threat, it is what it is. I won’t beg you to come, you should normally not even expect it.”
Following the governor’s formal defection on Friday, Mr. Ememobong made his resignation public in a statement posted on Facebook.
“Today, I have tendered my resignation to the Governor in compliance with his directive that his appointees who are unwilling to join him on the political journey to the APC should resign.”
He went on to explain his reasons for not following the governor into the APC:
“While I cannot question or fault the Governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn. My decision is borne out of my belief in politics with principles and my long-standing opposition to that political platform, which is daily validated by numerous Nigerians across many sectors.”
Despite stepping down, Ememobong expressed gratitude to the governor for the trust placed in him during his tenure:
“This decision does not affect my personal relationship with the Governor, who calls me his brother and reposed great confidence in me by saddling me with two very important ministries (Information and Special Duties & Ibom Deep Sea Port). I have and will continue to have tremendous respect for HE Governor Umo Eno, even out of EXCO.”
At a defection event in Uyo, Governor Eno addressed his supporters, emphasizing that his switch to the APC came from a “place of strength.”
“Today, fellow Akwa Ibomites, we are gathered here to witness change, while equally affirming the constancy of our collective values and defining ethos as a state.”
Reflecting on the public discourse that followed the speculation of his defection, he said:
“For some time now, the political space, particularly in this state and the nation in general, have been awash with the news of my likely movement from the PDP, the platform that has provided the levers and ladder of my political ascendancy to the position of governor of this state.”
“This discussion has elicited various layers of analysis in the process. Today, I am here to answer to some of those nagging questions. We should always be open to change, but not to let go of our shared values.”
He confirmed that earlier in the day, he had submitted his resignation to the PDP:
“Earlier this morning, I submitted a formal letter of resignation from the People’s Democratic Party to the ward chairman. The same copy has been sent to both the state chairman, as well as the national chairman.”
The governor also thanked the PDP for its support during his political journey:
“I want to thank the People’s Democratic Party for their support, for their love, and for working with me in these past two years in the affairs of running the state of Akwa Ibom across party lines. But this is a defining moment.”
Explaining the depth of consultation that led to his decision, he said:
“I have therefore decided, after due consultation with all of the critical stakeholders, across the length and breadth of this state in the last three months, I believe that no one has moved progressively or has ever changed party in this state that has consulted as widely as I’ve done.”
“I did that because of the respect I have for all of you as stakeholders in Project Akwa Ibom. I did that knowing that each and every one of you needed to be consulted, to be informed. I needed your counsel. I needed to explain why I am moving.”
He added that his final consultations took place the night before:
“And at this point, that consultation culminated into my meeting with all the critical stakeholders in the PDP last night in this hall where I took time to explain to all of you the reason why we must move.”
Invoking a biblical metaphor, he emphasized adaptability:
“That as the children of Issachar, we must be able to interpret the times and flow with the times, and not run against the tide.”
“Having completed the rounds of my consultation, as your servant that you have elected to serve you, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the All-Progressive Congress.”
Eno assured his supporters that, despite the shift in political alignment, his core principles remain intact:
“That I have, by today’s event, changed my political affiliation. But I will continue to uphold my values, my moral fiber, my foundational principles that I have nourished and cherished all through my life.”
“Those values will remain unchanged. And I will always work with you, regardless of party affiliations.”
“And I’d like to say that, coming from the PDP, I want to make it emphatically clear that we are not joining the APC from the position of weakness.”
With Governor Eno’s move, the APC now controls four out of six states in the South-South, consolidating its dominance in the region, with Rivers and Bayelsa remaining under the PDP.
