HOW AND WHY NSIMA EKERE WAS PUSHED OUT OF OFFICE

The Politics, Intrigues and Maneuverings that made him resign As Deputy Gov.

Five years into Chief Akpabio’s expected two terms of eight years government, it is not yet clear how many Deputy Governors his administration will wean before his tenure ends.

The first term of governor Akpabio in office saw Engr. Patrick  Ekpotu managing to survive all the intrigues and manipulations in government house which pundits say were targeted at getting him butted out of office.  But Ekpotu survived perhaps because of his calm mien and unassuming approach to doing things.

Some had said Ekpotu was a fine politician who would not budge. This position of the right wing politicians of the state did not fall short from being verified when at one time the then Deputy Governor’s office was running without electricity light and yet Engr. Ekpotu never complained. 

The situation was salvaged when a local tabloid told Akwa Ibom people and others what their Deputy Governor was going through.  Just as the media would always help to correct society and redirect attention of government at doing what is right, an order “from above” helped the situation as a generating set was brought in the following day to restore light to the office of the man who got to office first as Information Commissioner during the Gov. Attah years by addressing  Governor Victor Attah as “the man of good will”, and never was tired, despite trials to sing his “one love keep us together” song till he left office in 2011.

Perhaps Mr Nsima Ekere could not have had headaches if he had played the good “boy” the “system” expected of him.  He is a  good Christian, but may have lost touch with biblical nominations that he that seeks to be master must first serve and he that seeks to lead must first be messenger. 

A servant perhaps does not argue with the boss and is expected to take directives hook, line and sinker.  Governor Akpabio may not have had problems with Nsima Ekere in the beginning, otherwise he would not have been referring to him as his “only beloved Deputy and brother in whom he was well pleased”.

Though one school of thought holds that the State governor could have been bent by the intervening political forces unleashed by a powerful member of his cabinet, it was not clear how the state governor could all of a sudden be enmeshed in the Deputy Governor’s problem.

The whole problem  could have resumed when the a list of Commissioners nominees included a name from his local government area as Mr
Ekere was said not to be comfortable with one name and wanted the name dropped.  This Paper learnt that an influential member of Akpabio’s “dynasty” was behind the said name.  It is stated that after the said member of Akpabio’s family was sure all was well he travelled out of the State capital, but was shocked and embarrassed when he found out that the expected nominee, a former local government Chairman of Mkpat Enin was dropped.

Fate could have given him out when it was found out by an acclaimed most powerful member of  Chief Akpabio’s cabinet that he was not Speaker Sam Ikon’s interest with respect to 2015 and Mr Ikon, for that was to be “hacked down”  for Mr Ime Okon of Ibiono Ibom to take over.  For supporting the then Deputy Governor, seventeen lawmakers were lobbied with N5m each and one Hilux vehicle each to remove Ikon, but grave vine said Ime Okon did not accept the olive branch as he and others rallied round and rolled out a statement declaring their vote of confidence in Speaker Sam Ikon.

Another theory that led to the former Deputy Governor’s problem was that he vehemently resisted the plot to remove Speaker Sam Ikon and the cabal sought for his jugular with a plot to remove him through impeachment.  The was the beginning of plan B.

It was certain that a plan B would come, but how and when was shrouded in mystery.  The master stroke came when  the strategy changed that the Speaker was to be  served with impeachment notice of the Deputy Governor and Mr Ekere was tipped hence he throw in the towel as he sensed a possibility of  resumption of an imminent impeachment process on  Nov. 1, 2012.

 The time-tested Estate Surveyor, Valuer and Consultant, having sensed the danger coming, took the path of honor by throwing in the towel via a designation letter on 31/11/12, which in less than twelve hours was being flaunted by joy seekers in bars, restaurants, drinking joints in the evening of  October 31^st 2012 as it was posted on some social network sites for all eyes to see. 

The Waves learnt that accusing fingers were being pointed at the governor as the mastermind of the resignation letter of his former Deputy Governor being flaunted in the social media with impunity, arguing that the letter was written to the governor and no other person. They also hold in their arguments that if such a letter could leak through any other person into the social network it was clear that nothing was safe in the main governor’s  office as even the security of the number one citizen was under serious question while  in the government house.

 Perhaps due to the position of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) it was not necessary for the AKBC news report telecast on the State Television to mention that in the evening of 31/10/12 that Mr Ekere’s resignation was accepted by the Governor, but the NTA Channel 12 Uyo news report on the receipt of a letter from the state governor intimating Akwa Ibom State House of  Assembly of the resignation of the Deputy Governor, said the governor accepted Mr Ekere’s resignation.

Though Sam Ikon survived what could be described as a putsch, the gladiators who observed that Ikon, Opolupm Ette and Godwin Oton were not at the Port Harcourt meeting, allegedly re-strategized with the intention to butt out the former Deputy Governor before they return back to give Ikon the fight of his life.

A school of thought says that Mr Ekere was complaining that he was reduced to a “rubber stamp” second in command to handle only boundary issues in boarder communities and that could call for a claim alleged to have been made by him that the former Deputy Governor, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu was patient by staying for four years and that he could not stand such experience.

This Paper learnt that his closeness to Aso Rock and Rotimi Amaechi where he was briefed to play safe till the time was nigh for him to succeed Akpabio could have attracted the anger of the power brokers of the Hilltop Mansion.

 However, a source in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly who never wanted mention in this report said Mr Ekere was to be removed by the House via impeachment based on insubordination, corruption, disloyalty and other shades of misconduct.  The source said to end the estranged relationship between the governor and his deputy the House has to seek for a way to remove the deputy for the state to move forward.  The governor was said to have told his former deputy governor on October 29, 2012 in an open meeting  that he could no longer work with him.  Viewing the  impeachment move as being in the best interest of the state, the source said one of the things that moved all the members to sign the impeachment notice against the former deputy governor was his collection of estacode in favor of his aides; Derek Umoh and Daniel Ekong when he traveled to London in April 2012.  Other estacodes of  non-travelling aides include trips to Durban, South Africa, United Arab Emirate, Houston in USA and illegal issuance of a plot of land along Edet Akpan Avenue owned by Uyo local government area to God knows who.

In an international retreat Niger Delta States where the former deputy governor was to represent his boss, while the governors of Edo, Cross River, Delta and Rivers States were around at the venue of the event, Mr Ekere was alleged to have played truancy with that state assignment by leaving the venue of the event that lasted for two days.

The former Deputy Governor was not ready to comment on his resignation to the press except that he left on grounds of personal reasons but  his Press Secretary, Inemesit Inah declined comments when asked why his former boss resigned from a job many politicians were rolling their heads to take.

Meanwhile, many analysts wonder why Nsima Ekere’s letter of resignation could litter the pages of social network in few hours after the man’s resignation, when even letters of Commissioners who resigned from Akpabio’s cabinet never leaked into  circulation.  They reasoned that it could be an attempt to rubbish the Ibibios.  Another person who made comments but declined being named in this report said that plots by the same cabal were perfected to drop the Finance Commissioner in next cabinet shake up.  It is also said that the big masquerade in Chief Akpabio’s government, warming up to wear the master’s shoes has dragged his boss into a fraternity he belongs, hence making his boss as helpless in recanting some of the things going on hence playing the OBJ experience who was like playing  safe to Tony Annenih gallery because of  where they both belonged .

Weighing all the odds, as at Friday November 2, 2012 the plot to impeach the Speaker never died.  It is believed that the cabal might not have gone to roost as the plot to remove Sam Ikon may still be brewing, judged from the fact that Plan A has worked and Mr Ekere is gone.  Observers and those who cared to comment on the unfolding drama that led to the ouster of the former deputy governor  say whoever was behind the melodrama might be piling up enemies against power seekers in 2015.

 Meanwhile, Governor  Chief Godswill in his letter with Ref: GO/AKS/S.45/84 addressed to the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Samuel Ikon, appointed Lady Valery Ebe as the new Deputy Governor in pursuant to section 191(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

Lady Ebe had served in the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah as Commissioner in the board of Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM). The new Deputy Governor who is from Mkpat Enin Local Government Area in Eket Senatorial District had equally served as the legal adviser to Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, during Governor Attah’s regime. She was again appointed by Akpabio as Commissioner for Environment and during a minor cabinet re-organization she was moved to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as Commissioner where she finally bowed out. Her Honour, Lady Barr. Valerie Ebe, as she would be addressed, was sworn in as Deputy Governor on Saturday November 3, 2012.