Last week, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, directed all appointees nursing political ambitions to resign on or before March 26.
Governor Otu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Linus Obogo, hinged his decision on the need for clarity of purpose in governance, saying public office is a sacred trust and must not be conflated by personal political pursuits.
But, as of press time, no appointee had complied. “Nobody has dropped a resignation letter. Anyone willing to do so has until tomorrow,” a highly placed source said last night.
But, Daily Sun has it on good authority that no fewer than 10 aides and appointees are likely to quit the state executive council.
They include the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Oden Ewa.
He reportedly has his eyes firmly on the senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Central senatorial district.
A young and promising politician, Ewa hopes to displace the incumbent and former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Senator Eteng Jonas.
He is relatively new in the political theatre of the district and has recently been extending enormous goodwill to his potential constituents.
Also likely to go, is the Commissioner for Health, Henry Egbe Ayuk, who is reportedly eyeing the Obubra/Etung federal constituency ticket to replace the incumbent, Mike Etaba, who has served three terms but is eyeing a fourth term in office.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Ijom Ukam, who is eyeing the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency ticket and Commissioner for Finance, Michael Odere from Obudu-Bekwarra-Obanliku axis, who is speculated to be eyeing a seat in the national assembly may quit the government any moment.
Others are the Commissioner for Environment, Moses Osogi from Yakurr Abi, who is reportedly eyeing the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency ticket and Chief Victor Fidelis Idem, key stakeholder in Calabar Municipality, who may potentially run for the Calabar Municipality /Odukpani Federal Constituency elections.
Reliable sources also said Francis Ekpo, director general of the Cross River State Electricity Agency is also likely to contest the Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency seat, as well as Nta Eke of the Infrastructure agency.
With hours to the deadline, no resignations have come yet and reports indicate that having not expressly received open endorsement by the governor, some aides may have developed cold feet about the risky political adventure.
Multiple sources also said some aides are tidying up in their respective offices and would quit on the deadline day.
For some aides, the political coast appears unclear as the risks remain high. But, the next few hours will determine how far they are willing to go.