Barrister Akiba lauds Gov Otu’s Chief of Staff, Ironbar, 6 Commissioners, over leadership awards
The Special Adviser on General Duties to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, has applauded the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon Emmanuel Ironbar, and six commissioners in the state for the conferment of the prestigious National Leadership Awards on them.
Hon Ironbar was recognized as the Best Chief of Staff in Nigeria, while the Commissioners were named Best Commissioners in Nigeria in their respective portfolios during the awards ceremony held at the National Merit Award Building, Maitama, Abuja.
The six Commissioners are: Best Commissioner for Health – Dr. Egbe Ayuk, Best Commissioner for Education – Senator Stephen Odey, Best Commissioner for Works – Ankpo Pius Edet, Best for Commissioner for Information – Erasmus Ekpang, Best Commissioner for Finance – Mike Odere and Best Commissioner for Youth Development – Odum-Ijom Ukam.
Distinguished Cross Riverians including members of the National Assembly, Local Government Chairmen, senior political appointees, the state All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, and many others attended the award ceremony to celebrate with the honorees.
Barrister Akiba, in an interview, described the Chief of Staff, Ironbar as a workaholic and a great leader who has effectively ensured proper coordination of the affairs of the governor as the number one aide.
He noted that Ironbar has played a tremendously significant role in the progress and success of the Governor Otu-led People-First administration which has left no stone unturned to transform, rebuild and uplift the state for the betterment of the lives of Cross Riverians.
“Today, our reliable, dependable, easy-going and workaholic Chief of Staff has been awarded the best Chief of Staff to a governor in Nigeria. The highly esteemed award was conferred on him and six Commissioners in the cabinet of His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, during the National Leadership Awards held at Merit House in Maitama, Abuja.
“The organisers made it very clear that the National Leadership Awards has existed for 22 years and that our own amiable Chief of Staff is the first to be awarded the Best Chief of Staff in Nigeria. So, our Chief of Staff has therefore made history by becoming the first Best Chief of Staff in the country. The organisers saw a Chief of Staff that is a workaholic and doing excellently well in the discharge of his duties as the topmost aide to the Cross River governor, and decided to introduce the Best Chief of Staff category to honour and appreciate his good work.
“Our Chief of Staff has no doubt demonstrated his ability to lead and coordinate in the way and manner he has carried on the tasks before him as the number aide to our dear governor. He has been very instrumental to the success of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration. We have a Chief of Staff that has evidently displayed competence and resourcefulness. We have a Chief of Staff, a humble leader that has efficiently played the role of coordination, connectivity and mediation in the affairs of government. He is the neck to the head and the clearing house in the Office of the Governor,” Akiba said.
Speaking further, he said: “The Commissioner for Health, an expert in the medical field, has shown enormous capacity and you can see all that he has done in the health sector of the state. For the Commissioner for Works, the level of infrastructural development has been massive. Everyday we are breaking new ground. We are building drainages and constructing roads.
“Our Commissioner for Finance has shown prudence in financial management. Cross River is the only state that is not borrowing. Commissioner for Youths has greatly championed the empowerment of youths in the state. He has carried out a lot of youth advocacy, empowerment and orientation programmes. Our Commissioner for Information is the former APC spokesman in Cross River. He has developed adequate information gathering techniques. You can now access government activities and programmes without stress.
“Our Commissioner for Education, a distinguished senator with seven degrees, a Ph.D in law and a Ph.D in social sciences has created a conducive environment for learning in our schools in the state. Our education sector in the state has witnessed rapid growth. We now have a comfortable learning environment.”
According to the Special Advisers on General Duties, “All of them (the awardees) have made their marks in their respective assignments. And so, for me, the award is merited. It is purely performance awards. It is in recognition of the outstanding performance and achievements of the awardees which are there for everyone to see. It is not induced in any way. The awardees were never known by the organisers. It is their work and performance that spoke for them.”
He however, noted that “Above all, the man that should take the greater credit for the awards bestowed on the Chief of Staff and the six Commissioners is our beloved and visionary governor, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Bassey Otu. The governor paved the way for their performance with his purposeful and visionary leadership. They were able to perform because the governor himself has been up and doing, responsible in the running of the affairs of the state, and taking pragmatic and innovative steps to move Cross River to greater heights.”