By Gab Efo
President Muhammadu Buhari is a very painstaking and hardly a loquacious person. As a leader, his delay in taking smart decisions on issues has made many to unwittingly tag him “Baba go slow.”
However, his love for country cannot be diminished by this tag. His passionate pursuit of his set goals has continued to bring results that benefit the down trodden despite a cacophony of voices of the elites.
Currently, the President is in the final phase of assembling his cabinet list of 36 as was in his first term or 42 – 43 if he chooses to look the way of the proponents of an enlarged team to accommodate the FCT and six geographical zone representatives.
In Akwa Ibom State, there are several political gladiators, some of whom may be seen as underdogs to the highly coveted office of member of Federal Executive Council. This is often the case in states where there is no incumbent governor of the ruling party at the centre to dictate or guide the process.
A survey shows that the list of interested persons includes but not limited to the ones named in this article: Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, Senator Ita Solomon Enang, Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, Sir Nsima Udo Ekere, Sir Bassey Dan Abia.
A political analyst said “Among those in the list, Senator Udoma has the brightest chance if only his friend of many decades retains the position of Chief of Staff to the President. The undercurrent of the moment dictates otherwise as Abba Kyari is at the moment battling not to be kicked out.”
Another analyst observed “Senator Akpabio also has a bright chance, though he is at present embroiled in the battle for survival at the Senatorial Election Petitions Tribunal to recover what he terms ‘my stolen mandate.’ But the history of election mandate recovery at tribunals for cases in Akwa Ibom points to a tall order.
“His quest for the ministerial position is deflated by those who describe his inability to make good his promises to the powers that be at the election as ‘a has-been’ even as the party has gone ahead to reward the South-South Region with the position of Deputy Senate President, thereby keeping their side of the bargain.
“The prospect of becoming the leader of the party in the South South has seemingly collapsed like a pack of cards. Maybe, Bishop Bill Hamon of the Christian International Ministries Network, USA, may have been right after all.”
Senator Ita Solomon Enang, popularly referred to as “Udo Mfoniso,” is seen as another keen contender to the position.
A pundit recalled that “Since the advent of this fourth Republic in 1999 has an unbroken record of public service spanning three terms in the Federal House of Representatives, one term in the Senate and a term as a liaison of the President to the National Assembly (Senate) may not be that lucky as his pedigree in the Federal Legislature could confine him at best being elevated to the office of Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters.”
Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, a politician-turned-pastor is not left out in the pool of aspirants tipped for the exalted position.
He is a former Local Government Chairman, former Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo Senatorial) District, former Chairman of Governing Council of Federal College of Education Potiskum, Yobe State, former Minister of State in the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory and for about a decade the leading face of opposition politics in Akwa Ibom State since meeting with the Asiwaju Bola A. Tinubu and the Jagaban Borgu. But it does not appear that that relationship will see him through in his quest for the ministerial portfolio.
The Jagaban is said to have a handful to deal with in Lagos and Osun, especially as the Supreme Court prepares to give verdict on the 2018 Osun Governorship election.
It is alleged that Nsima Ekere (KJW) is equally eyeing the position. Ekere is a Chartered Estate Surveyor and Valuer, a former Chairman of AKIIPOC, who midwived the completion and commissioning of Ibom Power Plant in his native Ikot Abasi, a former Deputy Governor who resigned abruptly in order to protect his name, immediate past Managing Director/Chief Executive of the NDDC and the Governorship Candidate of the APC in the 2019 General Elections. He is currently challenging the outcome of that election at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, seeking cancellation of the election.
It is believed that he can easily be used as a rallying point to rebuild the party in the state should the outcome of the petition be unfavourable, hence a lot of support flows his way. But there are questions as to why must it be an Ikot Abasi man to replace Senator Udoma should Udoma not be re-appointed?
Though Bassey Abia (KJW) is the least talked-about ministerial aspirant, he is a strong contender who could pull a surprise. Abia is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, practised Corporate Finance Law in the defunct ICON Limited (Merchant Bankers), was appointed Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in 1994. At the advent of the fourth Republic, he has been in and out of one public office or another. He served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the second term of Arc. Victor Attah administration. He had served at various times as a Commissioner and acting Chairman of NDDC.
He served as Commissioner for Transport during Godswill Obot Akpabio administration before his appointment as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NDDC, a position he held until late 2015. He vied for the governorship by taking part in the controversial 2018 APC State Congress primaries. He has remained with the party and is seen as a peace loving, amiable and benevolent leader with a more acceptable mien that will douse tension in the various camps in the party. Abia is seen as a good grassroot mobilizer, who if appointed minister, could turn around the fortunes of the party in Akwa Ibom State and the Niger Delta region.
This is signposting the ministerial aspirants from Akwa Ibom extraction. Until a ministerial nominee is announced, intensive lobbying for the position will continue. And until a minister is sworn in, apprehension will continue to grip the political class.
