Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has warned that henceforth no government appointee should issue any press statement without clearance from the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
Eno, however, clarified that only the Commissioner for Information and his Chief Press Secretary have the right to issue press statements on behalf of the state government.
According to a statement released yesterday in Uyo, the governor issued the warning while addressing worshippers at the Uyo Archdiocesan Headquarters of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Itiam Etoi, Uyo, on Sunday.
He charged government officials to maintain decorum in discharging their responsibilities, avoiding chaos and actions that could threaten the peace and harmony of the state.
His words, “No appointee of Government has a right to issue a Press Statement without clearance from the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
“There are only two people that have the right to issue press statements on behalf of the Government of Akwa Ibom State: the Commissioner for Information and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. Nobody else, please.
“Let us allow the decency and the decorum in this State to continue and to grow. We can work together and continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. We are called to deliver on the promises of the ARISE Agenda. We are all enjoying the peace we have in this State; let’s do all we can to maintain it.”
The governor clarified that he was not building a war cabinet, but a delivery team that would interpret the ARISE Agenda and further build bridges across the various sectors of the state.
He urged all appointees to emulate the disposition of Joseph as a member of the Egyptian cabinet and work towards the development of the state.
Commending the Church for its organization, he reiterated his commitment to supporting the Christian community.
In his homily, the Methodist Archbishop of Uyo, Most Rev. John Koko-Bassey, urged the people to emulate the Governor’s peaceful disposition and join him in uniting the state and the Christian community. He described ‘unforgiveness’ as a tool of the devil used to propagate bitterness and divisiveness, ultimately hindering progress.
