FROM: JOE EFFIONG, UYO

Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has sacked one of his commissioners, Mr Udo Ekpenyong, for allegedly insulting his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio

Udo Ekpenyong who until yesterday manned the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, was sacked through a terse press release signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh, which euphemised the sack as “a minor cabinet reshuffling.”

But the release hit hard further that: “By this development, the Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Udo Ekpeyong has been relieved of his portfolio with immediate effect.

Saturday Sun, however, learnt that Ekpenyong, who was once Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Affairs to former governor, Obong Victor Attah, came crashing during the fence-mending breakfast meeting, which Senator Akpabio led the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to have with Governor Emmanuel Thursday.

It was learnt that Ekpenyong, described as a kitchen cabinet member to  Udom, had shouted on Akpabio and the deputy governor during the meeting. “The man sacked himself. He insulted Akpabio and the deputy governor. In fact, he insulted Udom because by insulting the deputy governor he indirectly insulted Udom. He shouted at the deputy governor in the breakfast meeting that they had. After that, they moved  to discuss the crisis at Ukanafun (Ekpenyong is from Ukanafun) and Akpabio  suggested to the governor that it would be wise if he would be allowed to handle the crisis.”