Drama As Ayade Appoints 2 CHRONICLE General Managers

By CrossRiverWatch Admin

There was a mild drama at the head office of the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Nigerian CHRONICLE and Weekend CHRONICLE Monday, when an error from Government House led to the media outfit having two general managers (GM).

Emmanuel Akpong, a veteran journalist was appointed last year as acting GM where he has held the fort for over 12 calendar months only for Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade to announce Barrister Gilbert Agbor last week Monday as the new GM.

Gilbert CrossRiverWatch learnt, reported for duty on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 as directed, toured the facility located along Barracks road in Calabar and held a meeting with staff.

A staff told CrossRiverWatch that Akpong was contacted but arrived a few minutes after the Chief of Staff to the governor, Martins Orim arrived and asked the GM to follow him to an unknown destination.

“Staff were at loss on what to do” said the staff who said Akpong went straight to the GM’s office and continued to discharge managerial duties.

The drama continued Wednesday as CrossRiverWatch gathered that following pressure from certain quarters, Governor Ayade approved the appointment of Akpong as “the new General Manager of the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation publishers of Nigerian Chronicle”  a released signed by his spokesperson, Christian Ita said.

“Mr. Akpong who was the acting General Manager of the corporation takes over from Barr. Gilbert Agbor, who has now been appointed the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on External Investments” the statement added.

Also, the statement said Ayade approved the appointment of Mr.Francis Daniel as Senior Special Assistant on Cross River Geographic Information System Agency and Philip Otigbo Inyang as Director Operations, Cross River Geographic Information Agency,  Mr. Obeten Oden Ogbaka, Chairman, Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Council while Mr. Ignatius Atsu is reappointed as the Director General Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA).