By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent
The wife of the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Omotunde Ivara-Esu has retired from the state’s civil service after 35 years of service.
Omotunde who got to the zenith of the civil service, until her retirement was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs and recently celebrated her 36th marriage anniversary to Cross River Deputy governor, Professor Ivara Esu.
Omotunde who hails from the South Western part of the country became eligible to be enrolled into the state civil service after marrying Professor Esu who hails from Biase local government area.
She was appointed a Permanent Secretary by former Governor Liyel Imoke in February, 2011 along 12 others in the last appointment of such nature in the state’s civil service.
She was first posted to the Ministry of Information before her transfer to the Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
CrossRiverWatch gathered that Thursday, her final day in office, Omotunde came in on a conservative note as usual only to be greeted with a rousing welcome from staff of her ministry with several aides of the governor pouring in to felicitate with her.
It is unclear whether a celebration later held at their private residence or if any grandiose celebration will be held at a later date as this reporter could not confirm from any of the deputy governor’s aide about it as there is no information whether Omotunde has any aides of hers apart from the police orderly and security attachees to her as wife of deputy governor.