IMOKE RESHUFFLES CABINET

After much speculation, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, has finally reshuffled his cabinet. Since the inception of Imoke's administration in 2007, this is the first time he is making sweeping changes in his cabinet. The governor had often argued that there was no need to change a winning team as he was not in the habit of changing aides except when neccessary.

A press statement made available to Daily Sun, said the cabinet reshuffle became imperative, following recent resignation of some political appointees to contest elective offices in the 2011 general elections. Moreover, the cabinet it was meant to enhance good governance and effective service delivery in line with his commitment to taking governance to the grassroots.

Those affected included the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Edet Okon Asim, who will now be functioning in another capacity as the special adviser on political and legislative affairs. The commissioner, Ministry of Local Government Affairs is now the special adviser on public transportation.

Others are: Commissioner, Ministry of finance, Mr Kelly Ayamba, now the special adviser on debt management, special adviser, roll back malaria will now function as the special adviser on community health . Professo Zanna Akpagu, special adviser on intergovernmental affairs is now to function as the special adviser on special duties while the special assistant on special services, Mr. Rekpene Bassey, will assume duties as the acting state security adviser.

While the Chairman, Project and Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Eja-Dons Esege, will now assume duties as the special adviser on projects and programme monitoring and evaluation. Mr. Ededem Ita Edem, special assistant on labour is now the special adviser on labour and the former state security adviser, Mr Bassey Okim is now the legal adviser to the governor.

The cabinet reshuffle took effect from December 1, 2010 while the affected political office holders were expected to hand-over within in the next seven days.