Seven commissioners and thirteen Special Advisers in the Cross River Executive Council were on Monday suspended indefinitely by the state governor for not attending activities ushering in this year’s Christmas festivities in the state, as well as boycotting Sunday’s 4-Kilometres city walk led by the governor to mark the 2013 World AIDS Day.
The suspended commissioners include Mr. Attah Ochinke (Justice), Rev. Etim Kaifas (Finance), Dr. Sandy Onoh (Environment) and Mrs Patricia Enderly (Sociawl Welfare.)
Also suspend were Mr. Jimmy Aniyom (Agriculture), Engr. Elemi Etowa (Water Resources) and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Edak Iwuchukwu.
Specials Advisers and Special Assistants were not spared the wrath of the governor who accused them of ‘insubordination and dereliction of duties.’
The affected special adviser includes Mr. Eja Dons Eseghe (Project Monitoring and Evaluation), Mr. Wilfred Usani (Tourism), Pastor Eyo Okpo Ene (Religious Affairs) and Mr. Fabian Okpa (Special Duties.)
The Special Adviser Forestry and Biodiversity, Ntufam Gabe Odu-Orji; Dr. Gerald Adah (Investment Promotion), Mr. Fred Osim (Political and Legislative Affairs) Mr. Mark Obi (Legal) Mrs. Margaret Johnson Ebokpo (NGO) were also suspended on the orders of the governor.
The Special Adviser (ICT), Mr.Odo Effiong; Special Adviser (Mineral Resources), Engineer Effiong Bassey,; Special Adviser Strategy and Planning, Professor Idem Temple and Mrs. Francisca Nkoyo Effiong (Debt Management) were not spared the wrath of the governor.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Mike Ania, the suspended cabinet members are ‘to handover to the permanent secretaries in their respective Ministries and Departments.’