All Progressives Congress, APC, has talked big that it has welded the different segments of its support base into an impregnable, unstoppable and united battle tank to defeat Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the history of elections in Akwa Ibom state.
Though APC is a ruling political party at the national level, it is an opposition in the state as PDP has ruled the state for 19 years and eight months.
Eseme Eyiboh, Chairman, Committee on Information and Strategic Communication and Spokesman, Akwa Ibom State APC Campaign Council, Tuesday, rebutted a news story purportedly churned by APC, and vilified PDP for “authoring” the incendiary publication.
The news item entitled “Exclusive: Fresh Crisis rocks A/Ibom APC over Ekeres prospective nominees”, with a rider that reads, “Udoedehe, UOU, Oro Stakeholders kick as Akpabio seeks to take too many positions” circulated on several online platforms.
The disputed story began “A fresh crisis has rocked the Akwa Ibom state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following a list of “Would be appointees” penciled down for Obong Nsima Ekere, if he wins next year’s governorship election.
“The list which was allegedly agreed upon between the former senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Nsima Ekere was secretly complied in Ukana on the eve of Akpabio’s 56th birthday celebration, a deal sources say will be sealed with an oath between the two main actors to forestall any breach of trust when all gray areas are addressed.”
Eyiboh disclaimed it thus “This piece of story is one in the many works of fiction that PDP sponsored writers and internet rodents are daily churning out in their desperate attempt to deceive, cajole and distract attention from their political misfortune in Akwa Ibom State.
“The Peoples Democratic Party in the state has clearly and correctly read the mood of the people against the groundswell of popular desire for change of guard at the Akwa Ibom State government house, as can be seen in the daily growth of support for the APC and abandonment of the sinking government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel, thus this panic mode, which they have activated.’’
According to him, “While we appreciate the fact that the PDP, going by this story, has already conceded defeat in the 2019 governorship election in the state, we find it preposterous for them to also go ahead to prophesy on who gets what offices in the incoming government of Obong Nsima Ekere for the victorious party.
“The story is nothing but a tissue of the writer’s imagination, false in its entirety, and merely created to distract members of the All Progressives Congress in the state from the final decimation of what remains of the PDP in the state and the clinical removal of oxygen from its life support where it is currently hanging.
“Having expected the APC to disintegrate as a result of what they felt were differences in the party, the PDP cannot still live with the shock that the APC has been able to weld the different segments of its support base into an impregnable, unstoppable and united battle tank ready to give the PDP the most crushing defeat in the history of elections in Akwa Ibom State.”
“We appeal to APC supporters to ignore such a worn out propaganda tactics and keep pressing on until victory is achieved. We urge our supporters not to be distracted by the antics of the panic-stricken PDP, as the APC remains united in one accord to ensure the election of Obong Nsima Ekere as the fifth democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State to be sworn-in on his birthday in the fifth month of 2019,” he counselled.
Though PDP has not reacted to the APC’s accusation, Straightnews does not believe the unconfirmed story but has to publish if for record purpose.
It goes thus “According to sources privy to the deal, Akpabio agreed that Ekere should pencil down Rt. Hon. Emma Bassey, as Secretary to Government (SSG) and Pastor Udo Isaiah, who is currently Ekere’s SA on Administration, as Chief of Staff. Also agreed was the nomination of Akpabio’s chief of staff Mr. Emmanuel Inyangetor, as Deputy Chief of Staff.
A mild drama was said to have ensued in the cause of the listing when Akpabio insisted he should be allowed to choose the next Accountant-General but Ekere opposed it, pleading that Mr Nse Willie be allowed to serve in that capacity due to the sensitive nature of the office and the need for him to have an ally he can “trust” as Accountant-General. Mr Willie is currently Mr Ekere’s Special Assistant on Finance in NDDC.
Our sources said they could not agree on who should take the position of State Auditor General. However, Ekere was told to name his person for the position of Auditor-General for Local Government.
Some of the appointments allegedly agreed on by Akpabio and Ekere include, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as Commissioner for Finance. Our source claimed that the draft list has Mrs. Imaobong Akpabio, currently working in Ibom Power considered for Commissioner for Finance.
Engr. Akanimo Edet, former member that represented Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency, is billed to be appointed Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, while Atuekong Uyo Nathaniel, Ekere’s current SA on Security in NDDC will serve as Commissioner for Works.
“No name was agreed upon for Commissioner for Transport but Akpabio was alleged to have conceded the right to appoint to Ekere. Prof Etok Ekanem who heads ONE for Change Initiative will head Ministry of Education, while Mr Ekere’s wife, Ese Nsima Ekere will nominate the Commissioner for Health.”
“The controversial list has Arc Ubokutom Nya from Essien Udom nominated by Senator Akpabio for Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Hon Eseme Eyiboh as Commissioner for Information, Chief Sunnny Ibanga as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which means Ikot Ekpene will have two members of the envisaged State Executive Council.”
“The party will nominate someone for Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, while Mr Sonni Anyang who wrote Mr Ekere’s manifesto will return as Commissioner for Economic Development”, our source said.
Our source revealed that Obongawan Geraldine Etuk was nominated by Mr Ekere as Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Gabriel Toby who lost the Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency primary after defecting from the PDP to APC was nominated by Akpabio as Special Adviser Bureau of Labour and Productivity with Abom Tony Esu penciled down as Special Adviser Political and Legislative Affairs.
The arrangement has Mr Umana Umana given the right to nominate the Commissioner for Special Duties, Senator J. J. Udoedehe to nominate Commissioner for Environment while the position of Commissioner for Housing, Rural Development, Science and Technology, Youths and Sports were still pending and unresolved.
Both chieftains agreed that Mr Utibe Ukim should be appointed as Chief Press Secretary while Akpabio will nominate some of his assistants to serve as Media Aides to Nsima Ekere.
Unsure of having a cordial relationship with the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, after the exit of the Elder Patrick Albert led executive, Mr Ekere impressed on Senator Akpabio to agree to their sponsoring Otuekong Franklyn Isong, the Publisher of the Radar newspaper for election as the next NUJ Chairman for Akwa Ibom State to prevent a hostile media that may become a serious headache to the adminstration.
According to our source, the composition of Boards was another area of dispute between Akpabio and Ekere. Names to man some of the very juicy boards are yet to be considered.
Some of the names immediately agreed on are Umana Umana’s Media aide, Mr Iboro Otongaran as chairman Akwa Ibom State Hotels and Tourism Board. According to our source, Ekere suggested that Mr Anietie Usen who is about retiring from NDDC should be appointed to head Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation; Chief Inibehe Okori will head Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Limited, Mr Destiny Young was pencilled to head Akwa Ibom Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Bishop Josephine Egar will head the Akwa Ibom Pilgrims Welfare Board while Akpabio’s former Chief of Staff and later SSG, Sir Etekamba Umoren will be appointed Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission.
Evangelist Pat Ibanga Akpabio was penciled down to head the Akwa Ibom State Council for Arts and Culture, Hon Uwem Udoma who was told to relinquish the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency ticket for Hon Emmanuel Ekon, will be appointed Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, United States based Regina Askia will head the Akwa Ibom State Hospitals Management Board, Prof Chris Ekong goes to Akwa Ibom State Scholarship Board, Chief Otu Ita Toyo will go back to Local Government Service Commission.
Others are, Mr Maurice Ekpenyong to head the Akwa Ibom State Security Trust Fund to be created within Nsima Ekere’s 100 days in office, Senator J.J.Udoedehe was given the right to appoint who heads Uyo Capital City Development Authority, UCCDA while Ekaette Unoma Akpabio will nominate who heads Akwa Ibom Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA).
Otuekong Don Etiebet will nominate who heads Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board, Akwa Ibom State Technical Schools Board went to Senator Ita Enang, Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board went to Barr Ibanga Akpabio to nominate the Chairman, while Chief Ben Ukpong will choose who heads Akwa Ibom State Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education.
Sources said both Akpabio and Nsima disagreed over who takes Akwa Ibom State Board of Internal Revenue following Akpabio’s insistence that he be allowed to nominate a company to serve as Consultant to receive tax on behalf of the State Government.
Some of the boards where Akpabio and Ekere could not reach common ground include Akwa Ibom Investment and Industrial Promotion Council, Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme, Akwa Ibom State Land Use and Allocation Committee, Akwa Ibom State Law Reforms Commission, Akwa Ibom State Library Board and Auditor General for Local Government, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Akwa Ibom State University, Akwa Ibom State College of Education and Akwa Ibom State College of Arts and Science as well as Ministerial and Ambassadorial nominees.
APC chieftains not included among Commissioners and Board Chairmen, have been promised to be carried along in the appointment into federal boards, Transition Chairman and Committees, and as Senior Special Assistants, SSA’s, Special Assistants, SA’s and Personal Assistants, PA’s to the Governor.”
