By Akpan David, Apex News Exclusive
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State is said to have been rattled over the recent appointment of one Ms Keyu Edet as General Manager of the State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of Nigerian Chronicle, last week.
Otu reportedly has denied knowledge of such appointment.
Sources close to the governor said he had refused to yield to her pressures for extension of her service years, having completed mandatory 35 years.
The governor during his meeting with the management team of the newspaper had directed that there could be no extension for her as doing so would be against the Civil Service Rules.
Findings showed that the governor however approved for her to retire on salary Grade Level 17, directing her to hand over to the most senior officer, Ms Florence Oluohu, the Editor-in-Chief.
Not satisfied, Edet, a non-professional journalist, is alleged to have lobbied the state commissioner for information, Erasmus Ekpang to influence her return and appointment as substantial General Manager.
The governor is reported to have directed the suspension of the publication as he was unhappy over the reported appointment .
Chief of Staff to the governor, Emmanuel Ironbar is reported, too, to have questioned the authority of Erasmus to have appointed Edet.
Despite this, it was noticed that Edet has since taken over, and held a meeting with staff on February 8, 2024 whereas neither the Head of Service, Dr. Innocent Eteng nor Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche has announced the appointment as is the practise.
The alleged appointment has also caused ripples and bad blood amongst the hierarchy of management of the weekly newspaper, published since 1971.
Sources in the governor’s office blamed the Commissioner for Information, saying he surreptitiously extended Edet’s service against the February 5, 2024 Circular from the Head of Service and the governor’s directive.
But the commissioner during his meeting with NUJ leadership is reported to have insisted that Edet was appointed by the governor.
Ekpang said Edet is well qualified to hold the position having being secretary to the board of the newspaper, and nobody should challenge the governor’s directive.
Reacting, Edet, graduate of Adult and Non-formal Education, said her appointment as general manager followed due process, assuring that she would take the corporation to greater height.
Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, Comrade Gill Nsa-Abasi said the development was being looked into, although a non-journalist should not be imposed.