Sen. Ita Enang gambles with his re-election, declares support for Udom

Senator Ita Enang

By Nse Peter

Ita Solomon Enang, the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State has surprisingly declared his support for the 2015 governorship ambition of Gov. Godswill Akpabio’s protégé, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

Senator Ita Enang in a press briefing hurriedly organised, Saturday, in his Ewet Housing Estate residence, Uyo, for select reporters, said ‘there’s a principle to follow the leader’, apparently referring to Gov. Godswill Akpabio.

He did not allow reporters to ask questions, after making his remarks.

Ita Enang and Mr. Udom Emmanuel are of the same Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party is scheduled to hold its governorship primaries on 29 November, 2014 where delegates across the state will pick the party’s flagbearer.

The senator did not say much about his second term senate bid during the press briefing, apart from informing reporters that he has submitted his nomination form and that he needed support from the people.

Ita Enang does not have a history of good relationship with Gov. Godswill Akpabio. In 2011, Enang was out of favour with Godswill Akpabio and almost lost the party ticket for the senatorial election of that year to the then incumbent Senator Effiong Bob, but for the huge financial and political support of Mr. Umana Okon Umana. That was his first attempt at the senate, after a successful political career spanning several years as member, representing Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency in the lower chambers of the National Assembly.

Also, about four months ago, Ita Enang was engaged in a cold war with Gov. Godswill Akpabio over the new federal polytechnic in Akpabio’s hometown in Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The senator gave the impression that he ‘requested’ the polytechnic for his hometown, Ibiono, only for Akpabio to use his power as governor to snatch the school from him to Ukana.

Enang during the Saturday press briefing said “I believe that Gov. Godswill Akpabio and the people of Akwa Ibom State have today tutored, mentored, examined and appraised one man who is a contender for the governorship race”. That man, he said, is Udom Emmanuel, the immediate past Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government who is from Onna Local Government Area of the State.

The senator hitherto known for his stand that the PDP governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom be open to all the senatorial districts of the state, said it was time Uyo Senatorial District supported Eket Senatorial District to produce the governor of Akwa Ibom for the first time since the creation of the state in 1987.  

Udom Emmanuel, the man Senator Ita Enang wants his constituents to support, is facing stiff opposition within and outside PDP as most people view his governorship aspiration as an attempt by the incumbent Gov. Godswill Akpabio to impose him on the people as their next governor in 2015.

“I want to plead with the people of Uyo Senatorial District to join me and most of us to declare their support for Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio,” Senator Ita Enang said, while also pleading with all other PDP aspirants in Eket Senatorial District where Udom Emmanuel hails from to step down for the former SSG.

Ita Enang’s sudden u-turn is expected to come as a shock to many because it runs counter to the general thinking of the majority in Uyo Senatorial District who believe that the PDP primaries should be thrown open for politicians from their area to also contest, as it were in 1999 when aspirants from other senatorial districts contested against Obong Victor Attah, from Uyo, who eventually emerged as the party’s candidate and also in 2007 when Godswill Akpabio, from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, won the party’s governorship ticket.

There is suspicion that Ita Enang’s recapitulation may have been prompted largely by Obong Bassey Albert’s latest ambition to represent Uyo Senatorial District, after his surprise withdrawal from the Akwa Ibom governorship race. Ita Enang and Bassey Albert are from the same Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.

The senator sensing that the crisis within PDP in Akwa Ibom State may cause mass exodus to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties, pleaded with the people of Uyo Senatorial District not to leave PDP. “We have a great prospect in PDP,” he said.

For the 2015 governorship race, the zoning controversy seemed to have torn the ruling PDP apart in Akwa Ibom State.

Mrs. Helen Esuene (PDP), the Senator representing Eket Senatorial District, offers what some political analysts say is an unbiased and realistic view of the zoning debate in Akwa Ibom State.

According to Esuene who is also aspiring to become Akwa Ibom governor in 2015, “One school of thought is that Uyo Senatorial District had their slot in Akpan Isemin and Obong Victor Attah; Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District is currently enjoying its second term and that it is only fair that Eket Senatorial District should take the next turn.

“The other line of thought is also saying that when Dr. Godswill Akpabio contested, other people from other senatorial districts also aspired and the aspiration was not exclusive to Ikot Ekpene senatorial district and that nobody should be excluded from aspiring. The two lines of thought are correct and it is now left for the electorate to decide what they want. This is because what both groups are saying is correct.”