BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

IT is not in doubt that Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Goswill Akpabio, wants to be in the Senate in 2015 representing Akwa-Ibom North West Senatorial District after his eight-year sojourn at the Government House.

It is also not in doubt that he wants a ‘credible successor’ who will continue with his ‘uncommon transformation agenda’ to succeed him. And finally, it is clear that he wants the lucky successor to be a product of zoning in the interest of equity, balance and justice.

Umana

The governor’s support for zoning has been ratified by the state executive committee of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as members of the party across the three senatorial districts and 10 federal constituencies following a series of town hall meetings held between last April and May.

However, the zoning template has been opposed by a section of the PDP, which called itself Akwa Ibom PDP elders and stakeholders. In this camp are the three serving senators and former Secretary to the State Government, Umana Okon Umana among others and they have vowed to oppose the zoning of the governorship slot to any senatorial zone, insisting that there should be a free, fair and open PDP primaries for all aspirants.

Akpabio’s ambition to occupy the Akwa-Ibom North West Senatorial seat has never been hidden. In 2012, when senators held a retreat in the state, he participated in the sittings, obviously acquainting  himself with the workings of the legislature.

A happy Akpabio, in one of the sessions, hailed the level of democracy he had witnessed in the operations of the Senate where the Senate President is only one among equals.
To get the opinion of Akwa Ibomites on his ambition, achievements in the last seven years and the question of how his successor should emerge, the governor embarked on the meet-the-people tours of his state.

Akpabio, it was gathered, had since early 2013 been concerned about the character and quality of the person that would succeed him in 2015. He was said to have raised the issue with his inner caucus members in the state. He wants somebody who will complete the projects he had started and take the uncommon transformation agenda to higher heights.

Things were moving according to plans until last July when rumpus occurred in the inner circle of his government and the Secretary to the Government of the State, Umana Okon Umana resigned his position. One account said he was actually forced to take the drastic decision.

Umana was one of those, who worked for Akpabio’s emergence in 2007. Until the bubble burst, Umana was regarded as the governor-in waiting and he wielded much influence in the affairs of the State. Sources said Governor Akpabio, his inner circle and leaders of the state had earlier zeroed in on Umana as Akpabio’s likely successor in 2015.

However, a twist occurred following disagreements between the governor and Umana over the headship of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Akpabio was said to have gone to Abuja, pleaded and got the support of President Goodluck Jonathan that Umana be allowed to take the slot of the Managing Director of the NDDC, which was the turn of Akwa Ibom State to fill because he was sure that Umana could deliver on the President’s vision of restructuring the commission.

Back home, Umana saw loopholes in the arrangement despite assurances from the governor that the appointment would afford him the opportunity of quickly fixing the NDDC and rejoining the governorship contest.

After consultations, Umana rejected the option, claiming that it was clear the governor didn’t want him to become the next governor of the state. In his reckoning that NDDC MD offer is a ploy to get him out of the way while another favoured candidate is made to consolidate.

The appoinment of a seasoned banker, Emmanuel Udom, who hails from Eket, where the governorship has been zoned with reports that Akpabio is backing Udom as his successor, did not help matters.

Umana is from Uyo zone.
Sources close to the state government said Akpabio was jolted by Umana’s rejection and misinterpretation of the offer and he felt betrayed.
Ever since, a political battle line has been drawn between the former SSG and the governor. And now, it is obvious that the governor will not back Umana, neither will the state PDP except the unexpected happens.

With Umana ‘black-listed’ sources said that Akpabio elected to hear directly from his people on who succeeds him, which he did through the constituencies tours.
Without the endorsement of the people, Akpabio, a stakeholder said, is afraid history might be repeated against him giving the way he became governor despite the opposition of then Governor Victor Attah in 2007.

Attah had endorsed Akpan Udoedehe and his son-in law, Udoma Bob Ekarika as governor and running mate respectively but was defeated by the grassroots people who supported Akpabio.

Thus, sources said Akpabio does not want to make the mistake of choosing a successor as  Attah allegedly made.
At the constituency tours, Akpabio asked the people where they want the governorship to be zoned and the unanimous agreement was Eket.

However, the Umana camp pooh poohed the constituency tours claiming that they were stage-managed and Akwa PDP stakeholders and elders did not take part and insisted that Akpabio was bent on imposing an anointed successor on the state.

The governor dismissed these allegations as false and has been careful in managing the complexities of Akwa-Ibom politics so far.

Sources said Akpabio, an Annang from Ikot Ekpene, pinned his decision to back Eket Senatorial District to produce the governor in 2015 on the need for equity since the two other districts: Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene had produced governors. Attah is from Uyo Senatorial District.

Though, some have argued that Akwa-Ibom is resting on a tripod, which comprise Ibibio, Oron and Anang and that only Oron have not tasted power in the state, a number of speakers at constituency rallies want the template for mounting the governorship saddle to remain the three senatorial districts.
Having marketed the zoning arrangement seriously across the state, it is to be seen if the template will stand as opposed to Umana’s open contest option.