The succession battle in Akwa Ibom State has polarised stakeholders. In the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is believed that Governor Godswill Akpabio, who has championed the agitation for power shift to Eket Senatorial District, is projecting the Secretary to Government, Udom Emmanuel, as his successor. Many PDP elders seem to agree on zoning. But, they also want a level playing ground for all governorship aspirants. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.
Crisis is brewing between Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio and his predecessor, Obong Victor Attah. The bone of contention is succession. Prominent indigenes have alleged that the governor is planning to impose a governorship candidate on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of next year’s election. To them, it is worrisome that Akpabio has not cleared the air on this allegation. In Attah’s view, there is the need for a level playing ground for all aspirants.
Akpabio will bow out of office next year after completing his two terms of eight years. In the PDP, no fewer than 20 aspirants are itching to succeed him. Two of them, according to sources, seem to have an edge. They are former Secretary to Government, Umana Umana, a grassroots politician, and his successor, Udom Emmanuel, a banker. Umana is from Etinan. Emmanuel is from Eket.
The contenders include Effiong Abia (Oron), Bassey Albert (Itu-Ibiono), Nsima Ekere (Ikot Abasi), Prof. Richard King (Eket), Michael Onofiok (Oron), Senator Helen Esuene (Eket), Benjamin Okoko (Ikot-Abasi), Mike Sebastine (Ikot-Abasi), Okpolum Etteh (Eket), and Barrister Ekpem. Other contenders are Ekpenyong Ntekim (Oron), Peter Esu (Oron), Justice Nya Edito (Oron), Ime Albert (Itu-Iniono), Chris Abasieyo (Oron) and Assam Assam (Eket).
In the All Progressives Congress (APC), aspirants are still lying low. Potential contenders are holding consultations across the three districts. However, a lot of attention appears to be focused on Senator Akpanudoedehe, who was the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) flag bearer in 2011.
The main issue that may likely shape the contest is zoning. Akpabio has reiterated his support for the unwritten rotational principle, saying that it is the turn of Eket to produce the next governor. This has earned him the appellation of an advocate and defender of equity and natural justice. However, zoning is also a subject of discord. Some have argued that the PDP had adopted zoning when former Governor Victor Attah, who was in the saddle between 1999 and 2007, was succeeded by Akpabio. The former governor hails from Uyo Zone. Akpabio is from Ikot-Ekpene Zone. The third zone, Eket, has not enjoyed the slot. That probably accounts for the intense agitation for power shift to the district.
But, PDP chieftains, who are opposed to zoning, have maintained that it is not sacrosanct. Their argument is that, in 1999 and 2007, there was no guideline on zoning or power shift. According to them, politicians from the three zones threw their hats into the rings. Attah and Akpabio emerged at primaries after intense competition for the slot by contenders.
Sources said that Eket has a bright chance next year. Unlike 1999 and 2007, it is now very glaring that, by next year, Eket would have been left in the cold for 16 years. Therefore, there appears to be a consensus in the PDP that a chieftain from this heart of Ibibioland should succeed Akpabio.
But, while zoning to Eket may scale through, how the candidate will emerge is a challenge. At a reception for Attah after he was installed as the Ibibio leader, the former governor bared his mind on the succession process. He did not opposed zoning to Eket. But, he emphasised that while zoning will be a major factor, there are other compelling factors that cannot be sacrificed on the altar of zoning. The elder statesman was silent on these factors. Opinion is divided on the Attah’s remarks. Some have hailed him for standing up as a leader. But, to some people, the remarks were also confusing.
Two years ago, many believe that the former SSG, Umana, who was Akpabio’s ally, would be backed by the governor. In a dramatic twist, the hammer fell on the rich, powerful and charismatic politician. He was on a state assignment when the news of his sack was relayed on the radio. His sack by the governor generated controversy. There were insinuations that Akpabio removed him because it would be difficult to tame him, if he assumes the reins. But, despite the misfortune, Umana has insisted that he would contest for the number one position.
Few days after he left office, the former Executive Director of Zenith Bank, Emmanuel, was appointed as the SSG. Sources said that the appointment was strategic. The promising banker is from Eket, which is agitating for the slot. Following his appointment, eyes have been on him. At a thanksgiving service held in Awa, some stakeholders from the district endorsed him for the governorship. Since then, many individuals, groups and associations have also endorsed him. However, while Emmanuel has goodwill, he is perceived as the anointed successor. This has irked forces opposed to Akpabio, his benefactor.
In Akwa Ibom, the dust stirred by the 2007 succession battle has not settled. Reminiscent of 2007, Akpabio and his predecessor, who loathed his candidature, are on a collision course, as the state prepares for next elections. But, Attah is not alone. Other PDP elders, including former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, also have an axe to grind with the governor. He criticised the elements of zoning, saying that it has a pre-determined objective. Etiebet said that it may have been distorted and skewed in favour of a particular candidate.
Etiebet’s position slightly differs from the idea Attah was trying to articulate. He said, instead of power shift to Eket, he said it should be power shift to Oron, one of the ethnic groups in Eket. The former minister condemned what he described as “targeted zoning”, adding that it will not work. Speaking at the 55th birthday of Umana, he said the gospel of zoning by Akpabio is discriminatory. The party elder alleged that the governor was scheming to anoint his friend as a successor. But, he declined to mention the friend’s name. He said: “I do not agree with the governor over the targeted zoning. It is zoning to a friend. The targeted zoning cannot work; the targeted zoning cannot produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015.”
Etiebet alleged that the governor was trying to scuttle the tripod arrangement on which the sharing of positions in the state is based, despite the fact that he had benefitted from the arrangement. He said, if Akpabio had stuck to the arrangement, the next governor would have come from Oron.
“If we had stuck to that consensus arrangement, peace and tranquility would have reigned and it would have aided the development of Akwa Ibom State by harnessing all materials and natural resources. There would have been no problem because we it would have been obvious that the next governor would come from Oron. This was an agreement Akpabio was a party to. But, he does not want to keep that consensus arrangement as he wants to bring another Ibibio man to succeed him. This is not fair. That is why I have fallen out with him. That is why we are not agreeing.
“We as a people are saying that we can never allow one man to cook the food and make all of us eat and go to sleep and he goes about gallivanting to put his man in position. We cannot eat that food. As I am standing here, I have 15 governorship aspirants that have consulted me officially, traditionally and legally. I have not heard from any other one outside these 15 that have consulted me.”
Attah seems to share some of these sentiments, although he is not categorical on where the slot should be zoned to in Eket. once again, there is a conflict of interests and a clash of ego. For eight years, there have been a gap between the predecessor and successor. Ironically, the former governor who had wanted to anoint his in-law as successor has criticised Akpabio for mirroring his steps. While his bid to project an aspirant failed, it appears the scheming by Akpabio to achieve what he failed to achieve at the twilight of his tenure in 2007 is psychologically injurious.
Attah reflected on his tenure, lamenting how the 2007 succession battle was waged, won and lost. Apparently venting his anger, the great politician waxed philosophical, saying: “I have also quite often been reminded that success without a successor amounts to failure. So, with the benefit of time, I must now confess that I do have one painful regret. The one regret is that, though I left office with a successor, I left office without succession.” The statement is pregnant with meanings. There was a succession process, which produced a successor, Akpabio. But, as it now turned out, it was never endorsed by the former governor with his whole heart. While Attah was not indifferent to the tendency and sentiments of a successor in his own image, some forces prevented his emergence.
If that plan failed eight years ago, can he have a leeway next year? Can he now achieve the feat he failed to achieve, even when he wielded the power of incumbency? The former governor urged Akwa Ibom people to collectively evolve a succession plan. The interpretation is that he has rejected the governor’s private succession plan, which Etiebet also discredited. Another interpretation is that, instead of foisting a candidate on the state, as he allegedly attempted to do while in office, he is pushing for a candidate who will be the product of consensus or collective will. “Collectively, we shall choose a successor to implement our succession plan. The collective will of us, and only our collective will, shall prevail,” said Attah.
The former governor also dissected zoning, saying that it can only be meaningful and achieve the desired result, if certain conditions are met. The conditions he described as “certain other competing determinants.” He feared that these determinants may be sacrificed on the alter of zoning.
“As I look around, I see a number of faces here of people I know are aspiring to the high office of governor of this state. A large number of those aspirants are from Eket Senatorial District. This is as should be expected because of the sequential logic that, after Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, it should be Eket. But, there must be a level playing field for all aspirants,” Attah said.
The former governor explained that there is need for a level playing ground for contestants to restore people’s confidence in government. His words: “This is particularly true at this time when there is such a crying need to give hope back to our people; to restore their confidence in their government and to rebuild the state. Zoning will certainly be a major consideration, but at a time like this, certain other compelling determinants cannot be sacrificed on the altar of zoning”.
Since the determinants were not explained by Attah, there are puzzles begging for resolution: What manner of zoning? Should the slot be zoned to only Ibibio in Eket? Should it go to Oron? Should aspirants from local governments go to primaries? How can the governor marry his interest with the interests of stakeholders? Can there be a new power sharing formula to ease tension, ahead of primaries? Can it be fashioned out in an atmosphere of new understanding and reconciliation?
The camp of the governor had anticipated Attah’s remarks, ahead of the installation ceremony. In an open letter to him by Etteh, leader of the House of Assembly and governorship aspirant, the legislator cautioned that some politicians behind the ceremony held in his honour must not be allowed to use the medium to orchestrate tribal schism for personal political gains.
Etteh urged Attah to bear in mind that “ in the coming elections, to select its flag bearers for the general election, the PDP will deal with delegates, who are party members and who will abide by the party’s policy of equity, justice and fair play.” It is another tactical way of reminding the former governor that, since politics is a game of number, this may play itself out at the primaries. So far, Akpabio appears to have a firm grip on the state, the party structure and resources, which are critical in any electioneering. He also has followers.
The legislator also enjoined Attah to take a clear position on zoning. He said: “As a man who fought severally to make sure that justice, equity and fair play are not stood on their head, I believe you will join us in Eket Senatorial District to ensure that the rotation and zoning, which started in the state in your time and for which the current governor is standing in, is respected.”
But, Etteh, also emphasised the limitation to zoning, which he has asked Attah to endorse. He acknowledged the right of all contestants from other districts to vie. Urging the former governor to defend the agitation for a level playing field, he said no aspirant should be edged out, based on rotation or zoning.
‘You should also fight to ensure that there is a level playing field for all those who want to contest to lead our state to the next level, including those who, in defiance of the policy of rotation and zoning, still have the democratic right to join the race,” he added.
