2015 Gov’ship: The Surprise Akpabio Should Expect!

By Ephraim Ikpe

The battle to take over the Akwa Ibom Power House is still raging on. The gladiators are still running up and down in a struggle to maneuver one another. Intrigues and pranks have been introduced.  Some of them have the colour of cogent and believable promises.  Manipulations and tricks, the power of money and name-dropping is considere part of the tactics. The players of this so called ‘dirty game’ are cast in the mould of what one management expert said of three categories of people found in all establishments on this earth.  He had broken them into those who make things happen; those who watch what is happening and those who don’t even know what is happening.

Umana Umana

From the sitting governor of Akwa Ibom State to some arrow heads like Umana Okon Umana [and his die-heart followers branded as elders et al], who has decided to take his battle to the Court, it is not difficult to fathom those engaged in making things happen.  If mention is to be made of those seeking for the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, before the last six months, many political jingoists had hurriedly concluded that it was only few of the aspirants seeking to occupy Chief Akpabio’s office in 2015 who were serious. 

Samuel Akpan

Udom Emmanuel

 In one occasion, when asked why such a judgment was made, one Effiong Aniekan from Ika said that from his observation it was Umana Umana, Bassey Albert Akpan, Nsima Ekere, Udom Emmanuel and Samuel Akpan who were interested in becoming governors and that others were jokers and political gamblers. He went further to describe jokers as seekers of unwarranted attention who would later be counted as stakeholders in their respective political Wards or LGAs and political gamblers as those coming into the political turf [always] to make  money either through garnering support via followers which strength and supposed relevance they later take to the negotiation table to get appointment,  contracts or other juicy benefits from the winner of elections.

In the category of persons seeking to be governors, who perhaps are making things happen [in very clandestine ways] are others like Nsima Ekere, Samuel Akpan, and recently discovered but always in the governorship race, Benjamin Okoko and a new man in the governorship race, Prof Richard King, rumoured to be a long time closed friend of President  Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.  In the case of Richard King, it could be that Mr President might be testing the waters.  He could also be trying his luck in very hidden ways, being a man believed to be pulling strings behind the curtains. Or what would one say about the withdrawal of Police orderlies of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the embattled governor Rotimi Amaechi in the hands of the former Police Commissioner of Rivers State, Mr Mba?

National Assembly Tussle: Ikot Abasi People Must Count their Teeth with their Tongue

By Matts Udoaka

                          

With intrigues in politics, it is time of stock taking and reckoning. The Ikot Abasi people must use their tongue to count their teeth. Like the Holy Bible has said: “man know thyself.” If they continue to be receivers of cars and token money, their political future will become bleak for ever.

Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency consists of Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo Local government areas. The three local government areas are triplet that should not work in isolation. What applies to local government (a) should apply to (b) and (c). That should be for equity and justice to permeate. Else unhealthy rivalry ensues and the least among them, (Eastern Obolo) perpetually lives with nothing. Such scenario is capable of breeding hatred and rancour among the tripod. It is the reason amicable solution known as consensus in politics should be allowed a place in the history of the federal constituency.

As of now, from the inception of this republic, the Mkpat Enin candidate of Rt. Hon Bennard Udoh, has had utmost free ride to the house of Representatives. His success was at the instance of Ikot Abasi people who behaved as fools, but wise as a man who laughs last.

Bassey Albert: WHAT LIES AHEAD?

Obong Bassey Albert, formerly gov'ship hopeful; now aspiring for
Uyo Senatorial District Senate seat

By Osondu Ahirika
Oba Atokpe! Ise eeeeh!
His entry for the 2015 governorship race in Akwa Ibom state held the promise of a revolution in the offing. Obong Bassey Albert, the stylish, trendy, swashbuckling immediate past Commissioner of Finance, captured the imagination of many youths with his swag and his debonair comely looks.
Alas, the one popularly known as OBA took a dignified bow out, just before the battle erupts. The rupture of many dreams becoming a new nightmare. 
There is a strong temptation to compare OBA's brief political odyssey to a candle in the wind.  A wildfire, that spread so fast and quenched in a jiffy. Violent fires soon outburn itself shakespeare says, but this isn't exactly so. For me, this young Turk is akin to what Yorubas call Abiku. A political ABIKU, that is.

On his return to Akwa Ibom State on October 30, 2015, hordes of his anxiety stricken supporters were waiting eagerly to hear from the horse’s mouth. Rumours were rife that, OBA had thrown in the towel. A Damascus experience following a high octane meeting in Abuja with powers that be had taken its toll. From his alight off the aircraft to the missing delight in his countenance, the red light of caution was aglow for all to see.
Then came his address. He undressed himself of the gubernatorial garb, and solicited redress for his heartbroken disciples. Mr President has prevailed on me to give way for my kith and kin of Eket Senatorial District, and I can't be rude to say, 'No', to the Father of the Nation, if I should paraphrase his explanation. There was pin drop silence. With those words, a woman cried, "OBA anyong oooo!", translated, 'OBA is gone'. Of a truth he was gone, but is not a goner.

Attah, Akpabio And The Ides of Succession

By N.T.A, Efo

Both grapevine and non-grapevine sources which earlier made the news in town that Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio had finally given a ‘direction’ on his likely succession plan for 2015 has been confirmed.

Many who were pointing fingers at the immediate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Emmanuel were not wrong after all. One of the sources, Weekly Insight newspaper, said the Governor personally set up a 31-man coordinating committee to see through the plan to install the former SSG as his successor at the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

I believe strongly that the Governor has a right to be interested in who succeeds him. All of us would. Show me anyone who wouldn’t and I will show you someone who still believes former President Olusegun Obasanjo is still the President of Nigeria, meaning he is living in outer space and is not in tune with our inner situation as a nation. Even in our small corners as clubs, associations, committees, name it, presidents, chairmen; we crave from the cradle of our tenure to the crest of its expiration to replace ourselves with our choices.

Immediate past Gov Victor Attah of AKS

Why would the Governor have that right? Because he has seen it all. He has met several people, amongst them those angling to take over his seat in 2015. He knows the capacity and the capability of most of them. He also has his own human-prone biases and prejudices – he may prefer someone with a chocolate complexion to one that is fair; he may prefer a former banker to a politician; he may prefer someone from Eket Senatorial District to someone from Uyo Senatorial District. You cannot deny him that right. It is inalienable. It is also incontrovertible.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of AKS, Nigeria

A little peep into the tunnel of history shows that our leaders have always had and exercised that right. Obong Victor Attah, sometimes called the architect of modern Akwa Ibom, had a certain Dr. Udoma Ekarika, his son-inlaw, in mind to occupy the seat on which Governor Akpabio, sometimes called the builder of modern Akwa Ibom, sits. Obong Attah did all he could to make sure Dr. Ekarika became the choice of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) faithful in the state. At the end of the day, Dr. Ekarika did not win the primaries.

Bishop Akpan Opens up on 2011 agreement with Akpabio

…Declares Ambition for 2015 Gov’ship…Consults PDP State Executives, as he opens campaign office in Uyo

By Ekebo Ekanem

The 2015 governorship ambition of the former state deputy Chairman of PDP, Bishop Samuel Akpan recently gathered momentum, following his endorsement by political groups and the people. The Ibibio museum park, Venue of the declaration ceremony was filled to capacity by thousands of supporters and party faithful.

The Governorship hopeful, Bishop Samuel Friday Akpan during the event also consulted the PDP State Executive committee members of the Party to seek their support for his ambition.

Bishop Sam Akpan, Governorship Aspirant,AKS

At the Party Secretariat, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, the former P.D.P Deputy State Chairman, Bishop Akpan who was flanked by his wife, Vivian, members of his Campaign organization and his supporters, was received by the state Chairman of P.D.P Obong Paul Ekpo and other SWC members.

Addressing the PDP State Exco members, Bishop Akpan said he was at the Party Secretariat to inform the Party of his ambition to govern Akwa Ibom State and to seek their support. He noted that as an active member of P.D.P, he has worked, obeyed  and rendered great services for P.D.P in Akwa Ibom State, adding that he knew how P.D.P  started in the state.