2019 is not a distant year from now. In the football circle, FIFA has lined up activities for years to come. Businessmen and bankers have churned out their development plans. Even policy makers are not left out in lining upcoming years with activities and programmes even up to 2050.
Politicians equally plan ahead. In Nigeria, politicians of different hues think 2019 begins now and their plots to grab power are headway. Those in the major political parties-APC or PDP- have intensified their horse trading and consultations and campaigns, all in attempt to capture and retain political power. Strategies, scheming and spins are used as spring board to achieving their ambition. Where these do not pay off, money becomes an article of bargaining.
In Akwa Ibom State like in any other state in Nigeria, 2019 is no less a crucial year. Indeed, an important and decisive one at least for the various political office seekers. It is more hypertensive for political office holders gunning for a second term in office. No sleep, but work all through for the second termers. To a large extent, the trappings of office are mouth-watering that one must not toy with such golden opportunity- jackpot. So, why can’t the politician ‘repeat’ office instead of class in a primary or secondary school milieu?
For Governor Udom Emmanuel, he must have started plotting for a second term on May 29, 2015, the day his administration was inaugurated. And such, he has to box in many strategies up his sleeves. From time to time, he pulls out one and flies a kite to test political waters about his acceptability. As soon as he resumed duty, he thought of tinkering with the state civil service to make it profitable. If it were to make it efficient, it would have been a better deal for civil servants at least this would help to enhance the productivity of the service. He might not have known or read much about the service otherwise he would have known that civil service is for service not for profit-making. Private sector, his last port of call, is for profit making definitely not civil service. When he realized the make-up of the service, he recoiled.
Again, he came with the intention to rout Akpabio’s factor in politics. A year and some months ago, he subtly pulled out Julius Berger Nigeria Plc from Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway. When he realized that he would need the massive votes of Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim people in 2019 governorship elections, he had to part pay the company and ordered it to return to construction site. Political analysts do not see wisdom in such rascal decision of ordering the company out only for him to asked it to commence construction because December 2 local government elections was inching fast. The premeditated action might have been done on malicious grounds. Who knows?
Recently, the governor appointed and swore two commissioners into the state executive council. One of them was Barr. Ibanga Akpabio, the immediate past deputy chairman of PDP. Ibanga comes from Ukana West in Essien Udim. He comes from Ukana West, Ward 2 with 23 polling units and voting points the same with Senator Godswill Akpabio, the erstwhile Akwa Ibom governor representing Akwa Ibom North West in the National Assembly and Sir Etekamba Umoren, the Secretary to the State Government.
Some political pundits said the appointment of Ibanga from that electoral ward doesn’t matter because they are all kinsmen. According to the pundits, the election of Moses Ekpo as Deputy Governor, and the appointment of Aniekan Umanah as Commissioner for Information and Communications did not affect the political configuration in the area. Both hail from Abak Urban 1. The two positions subsisted until Governor Udom offloaded Umanah into overcrowded labour market some months ago, thus giving Ekpo a space to operate at will without qualms.
However, political observers see the appointment of Ibanga Akpabio as an unseen game plan to whittle down Godswill’s looming image in the party. There are two angles to it. One, it is speculated that Kpolum Ette, the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant was instrumental to the appointment of Ibanga. The reason adduced for this is that Ibanga was a backroom role of Ette’ governorship ambition in 2015. So, it is suspected that as reciprocation, Ette might have recommended the appointment of Ibanga.
Two, it is believed that majority of the people in the party are Akpabio’s. And Ibanga was appointed to create space for Udom’s man in event of Ekpo’ removal from office. It is speculated that Paul Ekpo, the state PDP Chairman is leading Akpabio’s disciples against Udom’s. So, what can they make out of this? It is alleged that there are subterranean plans by state government to remove Ekpo as Chairman of the party before the forthcoming PDP National Convention to pave way for Udom’s loyal men.
From the sidelines, this fear may not hold water in the unfolding political scenario in the state. Saviour Enyiekere, a one-time chairman of Ika Local Government Area, initially tipped to become the state chairman of the party has declined. He wants to become a commissioner in Udom administration rather than accepting the position.
However, investigation has shown that Godwin Michael Afangideh, a one-time commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources who later became a transporter is penciled for the state deputy chairman of PDP. He is to be compensated for the role his father, Chief Michael Afangideh, the pioneer state chairman of Adaha Akwa Ibom, a socio-cultural organisation played in building the party.
Udom is still unsettled by the mention of Senator Akpabio at the national level. Time to time, he has been jetting out of the state to Abuja and Lagos attend to pressing political issues. To cross the political river, he needs Akpabio to give his assistance to paddle the canoe to Hiltop Mansion, Uyo, political power seat of Akwa Ibom again.
Already, Senator Akpabio and Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike are working hard to produce Uche Secondus as the PDP National Chairman. It is observed that Akpabio/Wike group does not trust a candidate from the South West Region. If Secondus wins, Akpabio could use his own contact and dissolve the party executive in the state and then form a caretaker committee. If this happens, the faction could produce a list of candidates who would go into the governorship primaries. The implication, according to the source, is that if Udom is seen as a disloyal party man then he might be chaperoned to defeat.
As 2019 nears, Udom has many rivers to cross. In the governorship elections, he has more rivers to swim. He has many issues to settle with the pensioners, state civil servants, local government staff, primary school teachers even people in the political class and business sector who have not fared well in his administration. He has to do more to douse raging fire of criticisms from consuming his ticket if he gets it. Meantime, PDP governorship nomination is scheduled for May and June next year. Udom is daily devising new strategies (tested and untested), a prelude to his second term ambition in 2019.
