Value Added: Eka Retains as Power and Energy Commissioner as Gov. Otu Resshuffle Cabinet
By Gabriel Kekong
Calabar (Core Reporters) Following his initiatives which has added value to the power and energy sector in the state, the governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has retained Prince Eka Williams as the commissioner of power and energy. This, as Otu reshuffled his cabinet in a strategic move aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery as his administration enters a new phase ahead of the next election cycle.
The reshuffle, announced on Tuesday during an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council in Calabar, saw Prince Eka Williams retain his position as Commissioner for Power and Energy. Dr. Erasmus Ekpang was redeployed from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Lands, while Pastor Cobham Ekpenyong was moved from the Ministry of Transport to head the Ministry of Information.
Several commissioners also retained their portfolios, a move the governor said reflected confidence in their performance and commitment to his administration’s development agenda.
Addressing members of the Executive Council, Governor Otu described the cabinet reshuffle as a strategic recalibration of government machinery to consolidate achievements and accelerate the implementation of his administration’s “People First” agenda.
He stressed that the exercise was neither punitive nor a reward system but a leadership tool designed to align individual strengths with the evolving priorities of government.
“Government is a living institution; it must constantly adjust to new realities. This exercise is about injecting fresh energy, maximizing individual strengths, and ensuring that every member of this cabinet remains focused on the larger vision of transforming Cross River State. We have crossed the threshold of foundation-laying; this is the season of consolidation and accelerated delivery,” the governor said.
Governor Otu reminded commissioners that with another electoral cycle approaching, citizens’ expectations had become even higher, emphasizing that performance and tangible results would determine the administration’s legacy.
“Electioneering must never distract us from governance. The people will judge us not by slogans, but by roads constructed, hospitals revitalized, schools improved, jobs created, and the quality of life we have enhanced. Every commissioner must see his or her ministry as a performance centre. There is absolutely no room for complacency,” he said.
The governor urged cabinet members to approach their new assignments with renewed dedication, stressing that no ministry was more important than another.
“There are no superior or inferior ministries. Every portfolio is strategic because every ministry touches the lives of our people.
Whether you have been reassigned or retained, your mandate remains unchanged—to serve with integrity, discipline, creativity, and absolute loyalty to the people of Cross River State. History will remember results, not titles,” he stated.
He also called for stronger collaboration among ministries, departments, and agencies, noting that effective governance requires teamwork and coordinated action.
“This administration must continue to speak with one voice and work with one purpose. Let us eliminate bureaucratic silos, deepen inter-ministerial cooperation, and pursue every policy with urgency and accountability. The confidence of our people is our greatest political capital, and we must justify it every single day through visible, impactful governance,” he added.
Members of the Executive Council welcomed the reshuffle, describing it as timely and reflective of Governor Otu’s determination to strengthen governance and accelerate development across the state.
