WHY I APPOINTED ITA EKPEYONG SSS DG – JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan has attributed his appointment of the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong to his strength and knowledage on the job and thank the Cross River State people for presenting him.

He disclosed this when he had audience with Cross River State Council of Chiefs, led by the Chairman, His Royal Highness, Eval Lawrence Idaka Egbe, the paramount ruler of Abi Local Government Area.

Jonathan said Ekpeyong's performance on the job so far has justified the confidence he had in him before making the appointment.

While thanking the Council of Chiefs for the support given to him and Vice President Namadi Sambo to emerge winners at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, he assured that their focus would be on wealth creation via engaging the youths.

President Jonathan commended the people of Cross River for remaining the most peaceful state in the Niger Delta, he assured that both he and Sambo would not play politics of division, reiterating that tribe, tongue, religion would play no part in the distribution of developmental projects.

'I'm not here to campaign but to ressure you that we stand on the fact that we must unite in this country to bring about development, it doesn't matter whether you are at the Atlantic ocean or by the dessert, we must remain indivisible because disunity breeds corruption,' he said.

Jonathan said security issue was of his administration's top prority even as he said economic issues will remain in the front burner because 'we are committed to wealth creation and we will not disappoint you'.

Earlier the appointed speaker for the day's ocassion, Etinnyin Etim Okan Ede, the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi, recalled journey's from Bayelsa State as deputy governor till date adding that is a confirmation of Biblical instruction that a man deligent in his ways shall stand before kings.

He commended the President's humility and the fact despite the power of incumbency he unlike other candidates has choosen to campaign from state to state, adding 'your hardwork will pay off. In Cross River

State, we have a process we follow and is a plus that you have choosen our govenor, Sen Liyel Imoke as your South-South governor, we love you in the south-south and is a time for us to demonstrate that our time has come. We shall work hard in all our local government areas to give you a near 100 per cent vote in Cross River State', he said.

The President was accompanied to the meeting after a colourful

ceremony at the airport by the Vice President, Sambo, PDP Acting

Chair, Haliru Bello, Imoke, the Minister of Environment, John Odey,

the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odien Ajumogobia, Senator Ndoma Egba,

top presidential aides and PDP top brass.