Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has warned his cabinet members against abandoning him at public functions, adding that any cabinet member caught in the act will be sacked with immediate effect.

In a trending video, the governor warned that he would sack any cabinet member he could not find behind him anytime he was outside, adding that his simplicity should not be misinterpreted as weakness.

The governor added that he was issuing the warning to the commissioners and aides because when people hear that the commissioners from their local government have been fired, they should know that it was because of insubordination.

He noted that it was wrong for him, as the governor, to be left at an event while the commissioners and aides were nowhere to be found. According to him, the commissioners and aides are his "first 11", and their job is a full-time, 24/7 one.

Eno emphasised the importance of loyalty, protocol and presence, adding that every cabinet member must be committed to their office responsibilities. He stressed that he did not announce his movement and that it is mandated on his commissioners to see him return to his office of lodge.

He further stressed that he can stop anywhere, and if there is an issue, the commissioner in charge of the issue raised must be ready to attend to him. He expressed concerns about a recent development, alleging that some appointees routinely disappear as soon as official engagement ends, stating that such practice must stop with immediate effect.

The governor decried a situation where he would go to a place and leave, then the commissioners would take off to where he did not know. He added that if any commissioner is doing his or her thing, such a commissioner is not ready to be in office.

Governor Eno recalled that he was once and commissioner and he never left his governor behind during his time. He then called for the same commitment from members of his cabinet.

While it's not clear why the commissioners left the governor at the public function, the development may have some political undertone. Governor Eno is one of the PDP governors who may defect to the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 elections. He also recently declared support for the re-election of the APC's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

“Let me end by assuring our people-loving President that we will stand by him. He deserves to complete his eight years in office. He cannot start this work and abandon it.

Someone else may not finish it with the same passion," Governor Eno said at the official flag-off of the 65-kilometre, three-lane dual carriageway section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Nsit-Antai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state. It's not clear if all members of his cabinet align with his political moves.

Akwa Ibom Gov. Eno angry as cabinet members abandon him after public event pic.twitter.com/yYwEMtf4vq

— Africa Independent Television (@AIT_Online) May 17, 2025