Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, OGFZA, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, has denied warming up to be appointed as Minister to represent Akwa Ibom State in the next cabinet by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Umana speaking through his media aide, Mr. Iboro Otongaran, said it was the prerogative President Buhari to appoint whomever he chooses to serve in his cabinet.
He said this in reaction to a publication by some group who mentioned his name in connection with the person they would prefer to be appointed as Minister to represent the state in President Buhari’s second tenure.
The Oil and Gas Free Zone boss further said he does not know the group and that the group was not speaking on his behalf, as nobody has the right to pressure the President on exercising his official responsibility.
“The attention of Mr Umana Okon Umana, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, has been drawn to a publication by a group in which his name is mentioned in connection with the person they would prefer to be appointed as Minister to represent Akwa Ibom State in the new Federal Government of Nigeria.
“We want to state categorically that Mr. Umana does not know this group; they are neither working on his behalf nor do they have the mandate to speak for him. Mr. Umana has nothing to do with their publication.
“We also want to say that it is the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari, President, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to appoint whomever he chooses to serve in his cabinet. Nobody has the right to pressure or stampede him on such exercise of his official responsibility.
“We would, therefore, like to advise the good people of Akwa Ibom State and members of the public in general to disregard the said publication in its entirety.”