By Ekebo Ekanem
Nigeria is once again entangled
in the knotty issue of a fast approaching general elections which time draw nearer by the day. Across the
country, politicians and political parties are getting ready to slug it out
with one another for the available elected positions that will go for grabs
during the 2015 general election.
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| Chief Godswill Akpabio, AKS Governor |
Governor Godswill Akpabio will
not be eligible to seek re-election for a third term during the next
gubernatorial election in the state. The quest to replace him amongst
politicians is already at its peak. In Akwa Ibom State, some of the gubernatorial
hopefuls are already out in open in what is fast becoming an interesting rat
race to occupy government House in 2015.
Perhaps, the race towards
succeeding him is quite crowded. The battle for the Hilltop Mansion in the
state is tilted behind the political crisis since the state was created. The
Peoples Democratic Party has remained the ruling party in 1999 with Obong Victor
Attah serving two terms as governor before handing over to Gov. Akpabio on May
29th 2007 whose tenure will climax on May 29th 2015.
No fewer than ten aspirants plan
to succeed Akpabio. The contenders are warming up for the primaries which may
hold in October. Most of the aspirants eyeing the ticket are in the ruling
P.D.P. Among the leading contenders in the race are:-
Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is a
former banker and the current Secretary to the State Government. But judging
from the mindset of Akwa Ibomites, politicians and political watchers in the
state are saying that Udom might be standing as Akpabio’s plan A for
governorship slot assuming the Eket Senatorial District succeeds in his quest
to produce the next governor since the state was created. The S.S.G may be
fovoured by the ruling Party because the
PDP has said it has earlier zoned the ticket to Udom’s district. His zone has
been producing Deputy Governors since 2007. Report has is that the governor was
alleged to have informed some of his aides to support the S.S.G due to the rumour
that he is the anointed candidate.
Watchers of political events also
believe that Udom’s camp cannot make serious impact in the politics of Akwa
Ibom come 2015 have noted that until his
appointment as the S.S.G, Udom had no political structure. He is also
considered a strong contender enjoying the support of the governor since he was
appointed as the S.S.G. Akpabio’s defy politicking, particularly his alleged
role in supporting Udom reportedly offended many Party elders and some of them
are said to be calling for open contest, this according to a party chieftain
may hinder Akpabio’s plot to produce his successor.
Obong Umana Okon Umana
He is the former Secretary to
the State Government who served between (2007-2014), he also served in the last
administration as a Finance Commissioner from (1999-2007). Umana Okon Umana is
a big political fighter, he has been consulting stakeholders, party leaders and
royal fathers across the state about his governorship ambition. Umana Umana is
believed now to be a leading onslaught
against Akpabio to produce his choice may be fovoured to clinge the ticket due
to his cordial relationship at the presidency and the National officers of the
party.
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| Obong Umana Umana, former SSG, AKS |
The former S.S.G. is said to be
serious about his ambition to govern the state because of his closeness to the presidency.
There are already bickering that he has the backing of the first lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan in his quest to become the governor in 2015. He is the first
aspirant to declare his ambition, but the cordial relationship between him and
Akpabio got sour leading to his “resignation” to contest the governorship seat.
According to a political pundit, powerful political forces led by Akpabio are working
day and night towards his failure at the primaries. The Umana’s camp according
to an insider is gathering steam and growing influence believed to be rooted in
Abuja are prepared to frustrate Akpabio’s effort in order to get the party
ticket. He is a man touted to be loved
by 65% of the electorates because of his experience, dedication and commitment to duty while in office as the SSG, but the
plot according to a political observer is one that will be hard to execute by
Akpabio because Umana Umana, as many persons claim, has what it takes to govern
Akwa Ibom State, though He is not also favoured by zoning.
Obong Nsima Ekere
For Ekere, his political life is
full of ups and down. He contested in 2007 for the governorship seat, he came
second at the primaries but he was persuaded to join hands and support
Akpabio’s government through his appointment as the Chairman APPICO, as well as
Ibom Power Plant. He showed up in 2011 when he was nominated as a running mate
to Akpabio in his re-election for second term. The Estate Surveyor in
2011 may not have enjoyed the working
relationship with his boss, as the gladiators went for his throat leading to attempt to impeached him from
office of the Deputy Governor and he smartly resigned.
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| Obong Nsima Ekere, former Dep.Gov., AKS |
He is believed to be
favoured by zoning. A writer once described him as a “smart and
smooth operator” that has no grouse with anybody. He is one of those opposing forces of the
2015 battle to beat by Akpabio. Many believe that Nsima Ekere is the most
qualified for the Job. He has the network he can easily mobilize resources to
run his campaigns. He belongs to a federal constituency in Eket Senatorial
District (with Oron Federal Constituency) which is yet to produce a governor in
Akwa Ibom State, a point he raised during the town hall meeting held in his
federal constituency early in 2014. If
elected he has promised to industrialize the state.
Obong
Bassey Albert (OBA)
Also aspiring for the
governorship is a former Finance Commissioner who served between 2007-2013.
Obong Bassey Albert is well known in the politics of Akwa Ibom State for his
political prowess, sagacity and the large the follower-ship by mostly the youths
and a few elders. He has been working round the clock to make sure he becomes
governor in 2015. His supporters believe that he has all it takes to move the
state forward as a former banker, and generous person. He is considered a grassroot politician, and
his philanthropic gesture has endeared him to many. His governorship ambition
has received kudos from some prominent politicians in the state. To garner
support to realize his ambition, his political friends and godfathers have reportedly
floated and heavily funded a group called "Akwa Ubok Abasi".
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| Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, former Finance Commissioner |
He is also from Uyo
Senatorial District. Many believe he is
an opportunist who has not read well the political crystal ball to have waited
for the next turn when Uyo Senatorial District would be due to produce the
governor of the governor of the state, and they vehemently claim since that
would be the proper time for his federal constituency to seek to produce a
governor, that OBA would have had a better opportunity to come out. Others conclude that he is juggling to become
the next Deputy Governor to pair with an Oron Governor.
Bishop Samuel Akpan
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| Bishop Samuel Akpan, former Deputy State Chairman of PDP |
Bishop Samuel Akpan is a
chieftain of P.D.P in the state whose political group AKPF in 2007 and 2011
worked day and night to ensure that Gov. Godswill Akpabio succeeded in the two
elections. However he has said in the past that he is qualified to govern the
state. Bishop Akpan is a former deputy state chairman of P.D.P from 2007-2011.
He is one of the stakeholders and strategists who championed the emergence of
Gov. Akpabio for the first and second
terms. He is one of those aspirants favoured by zoning. Bishop Akpan
undoubtedly has the clout and support base to his advantage, but the political intrigues,
manipulations, strength of the ruling party in the state is a major issue he
has to contend with.
He is considered by many to be God-fearing, generous even
when he has little or nothing, is not avaricious, despite his popularity has no
opportunity to be compensated enough considering his avowed contribution to the
present government, has grass root connections within the state and other parts
of the country, has the capacity to deliver, and is believed by many. Many old politicians claim that if the
delegate list is allowed to run the natural course the likes of Bishop Akpan
could be favoured by the hands of the gods of politics.
While some argue that he is a
member of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, and that when he becomes
governor members of his church will take over government house, others who
queried what was wrong about being a member of the said religious organization
uphold that governor Akpabio had attended the said church when he sought to be
governor and even his uncle Pastor Isong Akpabio is a member of Brotherhood of
the Cross and Star.
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