Gov Otu’s chief of staff denies influencing key appointments

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

Chief of Staff to the Governor of Cross River State, Emmanuel Ironbar, has denied influencing key appointments in the state saying only Governor Otu makes appointments.

The  denial follows growing online praise  for Ironbar following a number of appointments by the governor.

Appointees publicly thanked the Chief of Staff, fuelling speculation about his growing influence within the corridors of power.

In a statement issued  through his media aide, Patrick Asuquo, Ironbar rejected trending narratives in the state which credits him for recent state government appointments.

“It is important that the public understands that appointments into government offices are the exclusive prerogative of His Excellency, the Governor.

“Any attempt to attribute such decisions to me is a misrepresentation of the facts and an unnecessary distortion of the established hierarchy of governance.”

The Chief of Staff stressed that while he serves and supports the administration’s goals, he “neither possesses nor exercises the constitutional powers of appointment vested in the Governor.”

He urged beneficiaries of recent appointments to redirect their gratitude to the governor and not to him.

“Appointees should direct their appreciation to the Executive Governor only, whose confidence and leadership made their appointments possible.”

He described social media attributions linking him to the appointments as “inaccurate and contrary to the constitutional structure of government.”