“Let’s see how God will make you governor,” Akpabio tells Umana

Gov. Godswill Akpabio (R) and Umana Okon Umana

By Nse Peter

Fresh revelations have emerged on one of the few last stormy meetings Governor Godswill Akpabio had with Mr. Umana Okon Umana before the later was unceremoniously removed as the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State (SSG), July last year.
 
Until the erstwhile political associates fell apart, Akpabio had made it clear that the then SSG, Umana, was going to succeed him as governor in 2015.

About two weeks before Godswill Akpabio’s wife, Unoma, shocked the whole Akwa Ibom State when she went to the then SSG’s office, forced out the workers there and broke in into Umana’s office, Akpabio had visited Umana in his private residence at Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, where both were said to have had a stormy meeting, sources close to the governor and the former SSG have told Think Akwa Ibom!

Umana’s wife, Florence, was said to be present in the meeting.

One of the sources said that Governor Akpabio went to the then SSG’s house to express his disapproval and anger on Umana’s effort to forge various political alliances in preparation for 2015 governorship election, when he (the governor) had expressly told him to allow him be in control of the entire process that would produce him (Umana) as the next governor.

“Umana, don’t you know that I can single-handedly make you the governor?” Akpabio was said to have angrily asked Umana, to which the then SSG responded, “Your Excellency, it is God that can pass through you to make me governor.”

Not pleased with Umana’s response, Akpabio was said to have stood up and ended the meeting abruptly by saying “Umana, let’s see how God will make you governor of this state!”

Umana’s wife, Florence, was said to have begged both her husband and the governor throughout the meeting to calm down and settle their differences as long-standing friends.