Akpabio's Succession Plan Tears A'Ibom Apart – Sensor newspaper

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State

Several attempts by the state Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio to impose his perceived gubernatorial aspirant on the state, recently hit the brick wall as some Akwa Ibom stakeholders stormed out of a meeting convened at his instance.

The PDP stakeholders who were apparently divided on the choice of the state governor, described the governor's succession plan as not in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness in view of the three major nationalities in the state.

The Sensor-At weekend gathered that the PDP stakeholders expressed their support for Barr. Effiong Abia, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, Obong Umana Umana, and Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as likely governorship materials to succeed chief Akpabio in 2015.

It was learnt that the division among PDP stakeholders stemmed from the irrefutable fact that when Chief Akpabio informed Akwa Ibom people at different fora that his successor would emerge from the state executive council, the incumbent Secretary to the State Government was not around. They wondered and expressed utter disappointment over the sudden change in the succession plan.

It would be recalled that two governorship aspirants, namely, Obong Umana Umana, former Secretary to government, and Mr. Bassey Albert, former Finance Commissioner have declared openly during their separate visits to the Oro Think Tank, that if Governor Akpabio truly wants justice, equity and fairness in his succession plan, he should allow and support Oro Nation to produce his successor, else, they would contest against any governorship aspirant he intends to impose on Akwa Ibom people.

When our correspondent interacted with some PDP Stakeholders who did not want their names in print they advised the Governor to learn a lesson from the just concluded Ekiti governorship election where the people massively voted the incumbent out of office, thus enthroning the will of the people.

Sensing the trouble brewing in the state, likely to throw the state into avoidable political chaos, the Governor is beginning to meet PDP stakeholders from various ethnic groups with a view to harmonizing all aggrieved interests in the interest of continued peace and unity of the state.

Culled from Sensor newspaper