The direction of the mainstream on the gubernatorial succession in Akwa Ibom was expressed last Tuesday when the just retired Secretary to the State Government, Udom Emmanuel declared for the governorship. How far he can go is another thing.
By Emmanuel Aziken& Tom Moses
THE mass of men and women that thronged the Uyo Township stadium last Tuesday was by several accounts a gathering that had not been seen in the Akwa Ibom capital for a long time.
•Emmanuel addressing supporters last Tuesday
From various sections of the state they poured into Uyo to witness what obviously was the beginning of a new era in the politics of the state as the just retired Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel declared for the 2015 gubernatorial election. The men and women in different shapes were united by the various T-shirts they wore with messages pointing to their endorsement of their man as the successor to the outgoing governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio.
The declaration ceremony was organised by the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Actualisation, ACA a political machine largely reported to have been conceived by Governor Akpabio. Given the recent directive by the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that state party officials should not endorse aspirants, it was not surprising that the state officials of the PDP were absent at the occasion.
Though Governor Akpabio was also absent, his footprints were all over the place. Even his better half, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio who was popularly hailed as Mama ACA was there to tell any doubting Thomas where the eyes of her husband were directed on the issue of the succession.
To give readiness to his effort, Emmanuel who left his job as an executive director at Zenith Bank last year to become the SSG had the day before left his position as the government’s chief scribe. Before he arrived at precisely 1.25 p.m. the seats in the stadium had almost completely been taken up with supporters dressed in the attire of the various support groups canvassing his election.
His arrival was followed by that of the speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Sam Ikon and then by the first lady, Mrs. Akpabio who arrived with several women leaders from the state.
Women leaders
Following prayers opinion leaders in the state among them Senator Aniete Okon, a member of the Third Republic Senate and Senator Essien Ibok who served in the Senate between 1999 and 2003 were called upon to speak.
Noting the qualification of Emmanuel, Ibok, he said the leaders of the state appealed to Governor Akpabio to release his SSG not because he was no longer useful in his duties, but because they had found in him one who could continue the work of uncommon transformation he said had been conceived by the outgoing governor.
The Chairman of the occasion and former military governor of the state, Otu-Ekong Idongesit Nkanga, praised the choice of Emmanuel as the next governor saying that it was fitting in the context of zoning. He also affirmed his qualification and capacity to move the state forward.
“In the past, what we used to see is politics of ethnicity but ethnicity cannot solve today’s problems. For justice, Eket Senatorial District must produce the next governor and the only way Udom can succeed is to work with the generality of Akwa-Ibom people.
“I want the youths to take responsibility because the time has come. I want them to know that every generation has a history and nobody will write your history for you. This is a digital world. We are moving from analogue to digital.
“The PDP doesn’t mince words with zoning and rotation. With Udom coming from Eket Senatorial District, you are eminently qualified. If anybody coming from another district is also contesting, that means the person is not respecting the party.
“We want somebody that can reach out to investors. Of all the aspirants, Udom Emmanuel is the only aspirant that can do this. As we work, we must see those who will bring Akwa-Ibom State to a higher level”, Nkanga remarked.
Mounting the podium at 2.54 pm, Emmanuel praised the outgoing governor for laying a solid foundation for the state.
While pledging to be respectful to the elders and all manner of people in the state, he said he would uphold the tenets of the PDP, respect the party’s structures, hierarchy and adhere to the principles of justice, equity and fairness to all at all times. “Governor Akpabio has provided excellent leadership in the state. What is required now is that manager with proven managerial skills to move the state forward. I am passionate about wealth creation and the well being of our people.
“I am passionate about the well-being of Akwa-Ibom people. I am passionate about the economic development of the Akwa-Ibom people and Akwa-Ibom State. I am passionate about rural transformation and this is the time to move Akwa-Ibom forward. It is time to raise the bars of economic development in the state.
Economic development
I humbly present myself as a humble servant before you”, Emmanuel stated.
He also promised to explore his background as a banker and a chartered accountant to provide the state good governance and leadership just as he said he was fully prepared for the task ahead of him.
Also speaking, the International President of the Akwa-Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA), Pastor Andrew Uwanta, promised that the group would stop at nothing to win the 2015 governorship battle for former Udom Emmanuel.
“We have found another 5-Star leader to assume the position of leadership in Akwa-Ibom State. We shall stop at nothing to win this battle. We shall deliver Udom to the Hilltop Mansion come May 29,2015”, he stressed.
In her remarks, wife of the outgoing governor said that though Emmanuel was not the only son of the administration who was aspiring to become governor, he was likely to receive the blessings of their parents because he was the most promising of the children. She also seized the opportunity to thank the political leaders of Ikot Ekpene who days before endorsed her husband and President Goodluck Jonathan for the Senate and the presidency.
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