Akwa Ibom orders reinstatement of student expelled for criticising governor

The Akwa Ibom state government has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Iniobong Ekpo, a student who was expelled by the authorities of Akwa Ibom State University for criticising Udom Emmanuel, the governor.

Ekpo had taken to his Facebook page to attack the governor, an action which the school found to be punishable.

But at State Executive Council presided over by Udom Emmanuel, the governor, on Thursday, it was resolved that Ekpo should be reinstated.

Briefing reporters on other activities at the council meeting, the commissioner for information announced that the state government has fixed July 16, 2021 for the official commissioning of the Ikot Oku Ikono flyover.

The government also declared August 21, 2021, as State Coconut Day, where 300,000 nuts will be planted aimed to boost coconut production in preparation for the start of operation of the coconut oil refinery.

The meeting also witnessed the presentation of half-year ministerial reports from all ministries and bureau.

Addressing the exco, the governor urged members to continue to pray for the country as the economic situation in the country was of great concern, calling for both individual and collective responsibility in efforts at nation building.

Emmanuel promised that more industries will birth soonest as talks are still ongoing with different investors.

He gave briefings on the state of security of the state and the country and charged members to pay attention to and mobilize people to participate in the enumeration area demarcation and continuous voter registration ongoing .

The meeting also pegged the maximum age for admission into secondary schools at 12 years, aimed at curbing the cultism surge in secondary schools.