Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the succession battle in Akwa Ibom State and the contenders and pretenders in the 2015 governorship race.
Nature was kind and the weather was benevolent in Awa-Iman, the heart of Ibiobioland. The gathering was huge and it was not a rented crowd. Party faithful, government officials, traditional rulers, women, and youths were on their seats as early as 8 am. The thanksgiving service organised for the new Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, at the Qua Iboe Church became another platform for political mobilisation. A succession battle unfolded in the oil-rich state.
After the ceremony, which was witnessed by big wigs in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was evident that another contender to the governorship in the next year’s election has emerged. Many stakeholders could read Governor Godswill Akpabio’s body language as he reiterated his determination to hand over to a successor from the Eket Senatorial District in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice.
The beneficiary, if the governor succeeds in his plan, may be the financial expert and former Zenit Bank executive, Emmanuel. He hails from Eket Senatorial District, which has been agitating for the number one seat since 1999. The clamour for the zoning of the slot to the zone enjoys the governor’s support.
“Should the next governor come from Uyo?”, Akpabio asked? The crowd chorused no. Then, he asked again: “Should the next governor come from Ikot-Ekpene?” The people gave the same answer. Then, the governor said: “Since Obong Attah, an Ibibio from the Uyo Senatorial District, has ruled for eight years, and I, an Ibibio from Ikot-Ekpene would have also ruled for eight years in 2015, it is now the turn of the Ibibio from Eket District to produce the next governor. It is the turn of Ibibio of Eket Senatorial District, not Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene districts. There will be no rigging in 2015. The votes will be protected. In 2015, you people of Eket District should find a young man or woman to take over from me.”
The service was officiated by the National Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Emmanuel Kure, who predicted that the Secretary to Government will play more active political roles in the future. The cleric recalled the biblical story of David, who was forgotten on the farm, when the first king of Israel was to be anointed by Prophet Samuel. Kure said that the man of God was carried away when he saw the first son of Jesse. But, God did not pick him. Instead, David was brought from the farm and crowned. Kure emphasised that Emmanuel has taken after David, who rose to prominence by divine grace.”God has pulled him out of the private sector to be part of the healing process in Nigeria. When others go to herbalist to turn the heart of the governor, when others kill people to get to positions, the young man was in his office as a professional and he was called to serve,” said the priest.
The preacher described Emmanuel’s appointment as the SSG as an act of God, warning desperate elements to desist from planning evil in the state in this period of decisive decision on the political front. Urging Emmanuel not to fear, Kure added: “Whatever that will happen, there is a visitation and an appointment with the future; an appointment for destiny for your life”.
The SSG showcased himself as a man that is not driven by opulence. He was decked in a conservative white agbada, accompanied by his wife, Martha, who adorned the Ibibio costume, and his former boss, Mr. Godwin Emesele, the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank. Emesele described Emmanuel as a brand, saying that he is marketable. “You made the best choice as the SSG. In Udom you find a professional, a diligent person”, Emesele told Akpabio.
PDP chieftains at the event acknowledged that eyes are on the banker-turned politician, ahead of the 2015 polls. Hinting about this political calculation, the PDP Chairman and close associate of the governor, Mr. Paul Ekpo, who described Emmanuel as a dependable man, said that “the event and the prophesies are noted by the party”. Another chieftain, who craved for anonymity, said: “This man is a promising banker and I don’t think that the SSG has much attraction to him, if it will not clear the path for the future. I sincerely believe that he is in strong contention as we move towards 2015,” he said.
The historic event, which was the first phase of the succession endorsement, was witnessed by the deputy governor, Mrs. Valedy Ebe, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Elder Sam Ikon, former Secretary to the Federal Government Chief Ufot Ekaete, Senator Helen Esuene, former Minister of Science and Technology Ndueso Essien, former Governor Idongesit Nkanga, Air Vice Marshall Nbikak Eduok, the Chief Judge, Mrs. Item Isua, Works Commissioner Don Etim, the Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Godwin Emesele, and a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Okoro.
To observers, the SSG has crossed the bridge from banking to politics. As he addressed the gathering, he employed oratory prowess and drew applause. It was evident that he has started honing his political skills. In his speech, he requested the governor to further confirm his fitness for the job. On the slippery political field, he emerged as the underdog and a crowd puller. A PDP chieftain, who spoke with our correspondent, described him as the potential inheritor of the Akpabio structure. Emmanuel may have also confided in his kinsmen his future ambition. Thus, when Apostle Kure requested four Ibibio elders from Awa-Iman to pray for him, their prayers reflected the Eket District’s push for power shift. “May you fulfill your destiny for Ibibio, Eket District and Akwa Ibom next year”, one of them prayed. But, the Awa Village Chairman hit the nail on the head. “We hope that, in 2015, you (governor), will return to this community for another thanksgiving service”, he said.
For the Emmanuel, the ceremony marked the beginning of a turbulent journey to the top. In the unfolding succession battle, feathers will be ruffled and ego will be bruised. That the members of the State Executive Council, monarchs, and other party chieftains are in one accord over the governor’s succession project is debatable. Even, at the ceremony, the governor acknowledged the presence of detractors. Envy and jealousy were bold on prominent chieftains who now take the back seat, following the emergence of Emmanuel as Akpabio’s de facto deputy. Some big wigs responded to gestures from the governor and the SSG with mechanical smiles.
The governor’s rivals in the party were firing salvos at him from Uyo, the state capital, while he was addressing the crowd at Awa-Iman. Two former deputy governors, two senators and a former SSG rejected what they described as an attempt to impose a candidate on the party and vowed to resist it. They accused the governor of personalising power and marginalising a section of the party, stressing that he was behaving like the lord of manor. However, the Information Commissioner, Mr Umana, said that critics will not succeeded in inciting the masses against the governor because of his “uncommon transformation programmes”.
The governor has come under attack for shoving aside his ally in the 2007 and 2011 elections, Umana Umana, as the SSG. The former SSG was a strong contender for the governorship before his removal. Many thought that the governor had the intention of handing over to him as he moves to the Senate, if the PDP retains the state.
Akapabio reflected on the sack of Umana, saying that he has no regret replacing him with another Ibibio from the same district. Describing Emmanuel as God’s choice for the job, the governor hinted that the event will herald more good tidings for him.
Apart from obtaining the party’s membership card at his ward, Emmanuel has erected a mansion in his rustic town. But, the governor admonished him to remember his roots by pushing for more road construction in his area. He said he is in a vantage position to attract more amenities to his area as the Chairman of the Finance Committee. In response to Emmanuel’s request to confirm his fitness for the job, Akpabio said: “Udom Emmanuel is qualified to be the SSG. It is God who qualifies you. Verily verily I answer you today. By thy fruit you shall be known. By your word, you are qualified. When God chooses, he qualifies. Who am I to qualify God’s choice? A word is enough for the wise”.
The SSG, who thanked God for the appointment, applauded the governor for giving him the job. He also thanked his former boss, Mr. Jim Ovia, who he described as a mentor.Emmanuel described the governor as a goal getter, urging him not to be deterred by the acts of jealousy by his detractors. Apparently firing salvos at critics who had described him as a neophyte, the SSG, who quoted a passage from Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s new year message, said: “God does not choose those that qualify. He qualifies those he chooses. I thank God for choosing me”.
Emmanuel faces a future pregnant with possibilities. The road to the State House is laced with thorns. Apostle Kure alerted him to the challenges ahead.”People are planning to take this state by force and scatter everything”, he warned. To survive, he advised him to be humble and shun hypocrisy. “Fear the Lord, do justice and uphold righteousness”, he admonished. A PDP chieftain from the Eket Zone said that the SSG has a lot to do to gain the confidence of his colleagues in the State Executive Council, the party and the traditional institution. He said, in spite of the governor’s tacit endorsement, the SSG must try to court the stakeholders on his own.
A source said that Emmanuel may declare for the governorship in the next quarter, if the coast is clear. His opponents are formidable, although leaning on the power of incumbency wielded by the governor is an added advantage. In 2007, that incumbency collapsed when Governor Victor Attah could not abort Akpabio’s dream to succeed him. Can the same scenario play itself out in 2015, if aspirants not endorsed by the governor join the race?
Apart from Emmanuel, other contenders in the race include Prof. Richard King, Senator Helen Esuene, a maritime expert, Michael Onofiok, Commissioner for Rural Development Effiong Abia, former Deputy Governor Ekpenyoing Ntekim, Finance Commissioner Bassey Akpan, House of Assembly Majority Leader Okpolupm Etteh, former PDP Deputy Chairman Bishop Sam Akpan, Ambassador Assam Assam and Lary Esin.
