Akpabio's New Men : Why They Were Favoured

By Henry Nkom

Politics the world over apart from creating and building institutions for the development of the larger society provides opportunities for individuals to actualize their dreams. In Nigeria people are better able to appreciate the dimension of politics linked to self actualization because of the drastic shift in the status of most politicians from a state of modesty existence to stupendous opulence
The powerful game it is, politicians worth their salt play with calculative depth. Those who understand the way politics work don't play with their eyes on a second chance, so they put their energies into the big business and ensure that they are not left out of the sharing plan when victory is achieved
However, the sheer number of people who might have supported a candidate who stood for an elective post like that of the governor of a state makes it hard for the governor to give them political appointments all at a time. So the sharing is done in batches . This also places a burden on politicians to lobby for appointments if they must get the benefits of their labour in good time.
The lobbying done at various levels including the support of appointees by the most influential people in their localities whose voices are respected by the government of the day, support of the traditional institution and other opinion leaders, not withstanding , every governor who wants to be seen as result oriented would at the height of all the lobbying take a deep breath, consider the political viability of each appointee at that point in time and then think of the pedigree of those seeking the appointments
For over two months, the grapevine in Akwaibom was rife with suggestions of an imminent cabinet shake-up. Most of those who knew about it did because of the lobbying for positions that went on. The silent talks about imminent cabinet shake-up became louder when the governor mentioned it on Monday during an extra-ordinary session with the executive council. On Tuesday morning the governor sent the names of 3 persons who should be cleared to become commissioners and they are Barr. Ekpeyong Ntekim from Okobo local government area, Mr. John Akpan Harry from Nsit Atai , and Mr Eno Akpan from Ukanafun. Mr Etido Inyang from Ikot Ekpene and Barr. Jerry Akpan were cleared for the position of Special Adviser.
Although his name was not sent in for clearance in the list of the first five, Mr, Imoh Udobia from Esit Eket was cleared on Wednesday for the post of commissioner
The question now is, of the huge number of those who lobbied for positions, why were six chosen ? The Curriculum Vitae of the appointees shows that apart from being politicians they are also professionals

BARR. EKPENYONG EYO NTEKIM
Ekpenyong Eyo Ntekim was born on 22nd August 1956 and he is from Okobo Local Government Area. He attended Methodist Boys' High School, Oron, where he obtained WASC in 1974. In 1975 he obtained his GCE A level and HSC in 1976. In 1981, he bagged LLB (Hons) from the University of Lagos and got his B.L. in 1982 from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
Ntekim was State Counsel, Department of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State, 1982-1983 (NYSC); Legal Practitioner, Richard Efa & Company (Solicitors), Calabar, 1983-1985; Legal Practitioner Joe Ushie & Co., Calabar, 1985-1986
Ntekim also attended various seminars and workshops including
1991 Bank Directors Seminar: Deregulation in the Nigerian Baking Industry- Directions, Challenges, Problems and Prospects, 21st -22nd May 1991, Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Financial Institutions Training Center.
Workshop on The Reform of the Land Use Act, 11th 12th October, 1991, Governor's Office Annex, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Law Reform Commission; Workshop for Bank Directors: Duties and Responsibilities of Directors and Management 15th 16th September, 1992, Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Finance Institutions Training Centre; Induction Course for Chairmen and Managers of Community Banks 27th -28th July, 1995, National Bank for Community Banks, Uyo Zonal Office; Success Attitude Development Centre, Lagos; 16th Commonwealth Conference 2009, The Dynamics of Law in a Rapidly Changing World 5th 9th April 2009, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Regional Seminar on Industrial Property 13th 16th October, 1987
Member, Akwa Ibom State Law Reform Commission, Uyo, 1997-1999; Head of Practice Elizabeth Chambers (Legal Practitioners), Uyo, 1996; Secretary, Akwa Ibom State University of Technology Appraisal Committee, Uyo, 2007; Member, Akwa Ibom State committee on Impact of the ICJ Judgment on Bakassi Peninsula, Uyo, 2008.

Mr. ENO SAMPSON AKPAN
Mr. Eno Sampson Akpan was born on 25th July, 1954, and he is from Ikot Udo Mbang, North Afaha, Ukanafun Local Government Area.
He attended Holy Family College, Oku-Abak from 1969-1973, The Polytechnic Calabar between 1975and 1980 and Enugu State University of Science and Technology from 2004-2006.
He holds a Masters of Business Administration-MBA 2006, Certified Certificate in Accountancy-CNA -1994 and Higher National Diploma-HND in Accontancy ,1980, and he was a member House Of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts between 1999-2003and also ,member, House Committee on Debts Management from 2001-2003.
He became a member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in 1994.
Working Experience
Mr. Eno Sampson Akpan worked as Internal Auditor, Niger State House of Assembly in 1980 and was later promoted to an Auditor. He also worked in the Audit Department Calabar from 1981-1985, Chief Internal Auditor, Cross River Agric Development Project between 1985 and 1986, Manager, Mercantile Bank Nigeria Plc from 1986-1995.
He held a Political Offices as President of the student Union of the Polytechnic, Calabar between 1979and1980, Supervisory Councilor, Ukanafun Local Government Area from 1986 to1987. Also, he was the Chairman, Ukanafun Local Government Area from 1997-1998. Member House of Representatives from 1999-2003.
He is married with children

ENGR. ETIDO INYANG
Engr. Etido Inyang, a well rounded Technical Professional in management role in National and Multinational companies for a period spanning over 19years has managed many high profile projects including Supervision of Third Mainland Bridge construction. Supervision of all road networks in Petrochemical Company Warri. Schlumberger Project Manager for the construction of a multipurpose training complex with road networks at Abu Dhabi, MEA.
He has managed significant portion of Multinational Service Company at various locations in Nigeria with functional responsibility of over 1,500 employees and contractors of which 400 were direct staff, and had a budget of over N5 billion naira. Working with key leaders in Government to achieve Company goals relating to Quality. Health Safety, Environment and Security in line with country aspirations.
A conscientious, dedicated and vision driven leader with good analytical and problem solving skills. Recent co-orporate leadership training in South Africa, Europe, United State of America and Middle East with emphasis on Project Management and Crisis Management. Highly adaptable, with strong desire to achieve organizational goals and objectives.
He has been the Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Technical Matters for the last 2 years and he is Proven to have contributed immensely to all technical issues on the ongoing infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom State.
As Special Assistance to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom
He heads the Technical Team of the Tender Board (Finance and General Purpose Committee); In Charge of Monitoring all Projects in the State with a Project Monitoring Team of 15 members; Developed an electronic Project Management System to oversee all the Projects in the State, could be deployed to Manage regional or Country Wide Projects; Developed Concepts with the Executive Governor; Ensure due Process is followed through the award of contracts (over N80billion road contract awarded); Secretary to the Airport Implementation Committee; Secretary to the Ibom Independent Power Plant Implementation Committee; Director of Ibom Power Company; Director Universal Energy Resources Limited (State Owned Oil Company); State Project Manager Ibom Industrial City.
Education
HND, Civil Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, (1988); Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Schlumberger and others
Advanced Safety Leadership Course, South Africa, 2004; Project Management, UK; Lead Auditors Course, La Defense Paris, 2005; Lead Environmental Auditors Course, 2006; Crisis Management Course, London, 2006; Revised QHSE for Managers Abu Dhabi, 2006; Directional Drilling for Supervisors 1998; Completion Design Course by SLB NEXT, 2001; Lead Project Workshop, 2001; Randy Smith Quality Management Course, 1999; Randy Smith Stuck Pipe Prevention Seminar, 1999; HSE Management Systems; Investigation Analysis using Loss Causation Module.
Work History
Government of Akwa Ibom State, Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters 2007 till date; Schlumberger Oilfield Services, Project Manager, 2007, Project Manager in charge of Schlumberger Training in Abu Dhabi, project include building of offices, workshops, installation of equipments, Road construction of over 20km; Construction of concrete roads spanning over 5km on swampy area on a Schlumberger sponsored special water project; Management of Dam Construction.

JOHN AKPAN HARRY
John Akpan Harry is an Environment Chemist. He was born on June 2nd, 1970 and he is from Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
Career Path
He is experienced in Property/Population Assessment, Enumeration and Classification; Experienced in Solid Waste Management and Pollution Control; Experienced in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of projects; Experienced in Solid Waste Dump site/Landfill Design and Siting
Representative Project Involvement
Project leader- Property/Population Assessment Enumeration and Classification for Uyo Capital City, Ministry of Environment and Mineral resources, 2008
Project Leader/Technical Consultant- Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Solid Waste Management Contract for Kado District, for Mercury Resources Limited (2004- date). As the Consultant and Project Leader
Senior Publicity Officer. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Headquarters, Abuja. 1998-1999
Special Assistant to National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National headquarters, Abuja, 1999- 2000.
Chairman, Team of Observers to Conduct Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Congress in Osogbo, Osun State, October 1990.
Education
Calabar preparatory International Nursery School, Calabar (FSL Certificate 1981)
Federal Government College, IKot Ekpene, 1985
Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar (WASC) 1987
School of Arts & Science, Uyo (WASC) 1988
B.sc (Hons) Biochemistry 1997- University of Uyo, Uyo
M.Sc in Analytical, Chemistry (Environmental) 2002, University of Calabar, Calabar
Academic Award.