- Safiu Kehinde
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has sacked his Senior Special Assistant on Land Matters, Udeme Isa.
This was contained in a letter issued on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah.
While appreciating the now disengaged SSA for his contribution towards the development of the state, the SSG directed him to hand over his office, all official documents, and property in his possession to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands.
Udeme’s sacking had however sparked controversies as he was accused of illegal allocation of lands in collaboration with former Commissioner for Land and Town Planning, Captain Iniobong Ekong.
Prior to the SSA’s sacking, Umo Eno had announced a reshuffling of his cabinet with Iniobong redeployed to the Ministry of Trade and Investment while being replaced by Ubong Inyang, the former Commissioner of Trade and Investment.
Though the state government made no mention of Iniobong being involved in land fraud with the sacked SSA to the governor, Umo Eno’s revocation of all land allocation from May 2023 to date had however sparked the controversy.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom (SAN) had announced the revocation of the land.
The development raised eyebrow from netizens who in reaction to the sacking of the governor’s aide on land faulted the redeployment of the former Commissioner for Land rather than his sacking.
“While the ‘partner in crime’ is posted to another ministry”@Christopher Charlie wrote.
“And what happen to the commissioner for lands? Pardoned and office reshuffled because he’s the Governor’s kinsman?”@Emem Ekong
“Something is cooking in this ministry of land and housing” @Idongesit Udoh
“Because say commissioner na their kinsman Dem no follow sack am. Between commissioner and S.A who dem suppose pursue?”@Ekefre Enefiok