The Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr. Gilbert Agbor, has taken a swipe at former Auditor-General of Cross River State, Mr. John Odey, describing his recent commentary on state appointments as “laughable, regrettable, and shamelessly petty.”
Odey’s now-deleted Facebook post, which has been widely circulated on social media, alleged ethnic domination of key civil service and political positions by the Efik tribe. His claims, Agbor said, amount to “tribal blackmail” aimed at stoking division in the state.
“As a stakeholder of the Central Senatorial District, on which Odey based his vituperative views, I find it imperative to set the record straight,” Agbor stated in a rejoinder issued in Calabar.
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He argued that Governor Otu’s administration has adhered strictly to due process and extant service laws in making appointments, while ensuring inclusivity and fairness across senatorial districts. He cited the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, and Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Oden Ewa, all from Central, as evidence of balanced representation.
“These are not token roles; they sit at the very heart of governance, and no one, not even the Efiks whose son is governor, has raised an eyebrow against them,” Agbor maintained.
He further recalled that Governor Otu had appointed Dr. Innocent Eteng from Central as Head of Service, despite Mr. Peter Bassey, an Efik, being the most senior Permanent Secretary at the time. “If the governor were guided by ethnic bias, could such a decision have been possible?” he queried, adding that “appointments in this administration are guided by merit, seniority, and due process, not by Odey’s tribal arithmetic.”
Turning the spotlight on Odey’s career, Agbor accused the former Auditor-General of leaving behind a legacy tainted by self-interest and abuse of office. “He was notorious for rejecting postings that did not suit his financial interests, victimising fellow civil servants, and combining sensitive roles for personal gain under Governor Ayade’s administration,” Agbor alleged.
He described Odey as a man who had “squandered the opportunity to strengthen the service when he had the chance,” insisting he has “no moral authority to pontificate on fairness today.”
“The tragedy here is that instead of being a fountain of wisdom, John Odey has reduced himself to a megaphone of discord, blowing hot air like a vuvuzela – noisy, empty, and directionless,” Agbor said.
The Special Adviser urged Cross Riverians not to be distracted by what he called “retrogressive antics,” stressing that Governor Otu remains committed to fairness, inclusivity, and people-centred development.
He added: “The extant laws of the land empower the governor with the latitude to appoint whoever he deems fit to serve in his administration. In his wisdom and magnanimity, Governor Otu has exercised this authority with clarity, fairness, and inclusivity. That is the truth, and no amount of divisive propaganda can obscure it.”
