Akpabio’s gang up against Onofiok Luke: five things you need to know

Akpabio .... Will he ever forgive Onofiok Luke?

By Nse Peter

Godswill Akpabio does not forgive. No, he doesn’t.

For the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, politics is war by another name. Once your disagreement with Akpabio is such that it affects his political interest, you just need to know that you’ve made yourself Akpabio’s eternal enemy.

Once you enter into his black book, Akpabio would only smile with you, pretend to be your friend, and may even offer you help or political patronage if such gesture would only – I repeat only – yield political blessings for him, whether in the short or long run.  Akpabio targeted Onofiok Luke for political destruction, when the young Luke as a first-time lawmaker started promoting Ibibio political interest during Akpabio’s second term as governor when there was rampant killing, maiming and humiliation of Ibibio leaders. Akpabio sees Luke from the same prism he sees former governor, Obong Victor Attah and the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Umana Okon Umana – they are threats to the survival of Ukana Mafia and the sustenance of his political dynasty.

Are Akwa Ibom people so naïve?

“Generally speaking, to be naive means you do not think enough,” says Urban Dictionary. And it does appear to me that many people didn’t think enough when they expected Godswill Akpabio to allow Onofiok Luke become Akwa Ibom speaker just because he was considered the most popular aspirant for the position.  For the speakership, Luke won on Facebook. The new speaker, Mr. Aniekan Uko (Ibesikpo-Asutan State Constituency) won inside the Assembly chamber. For me, the following comment picked up on Facebook may very well represent the position of those who think enough on the issue. “If Udom is right, then Aniekan Uko is righteous, and Akpabio is the father to them all.” Simple.

Did Gov Udom Emmanuel secretly support Onofiok Luke?

It seemed so. The governor’s right hand man in the newly inaugurated Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Nse Essien (Onna State Constituency) alias Indomitable was one of the major House members pushing for the aspiration of Onofiok Luke, to the consternation of Godswill Akpabio. Mr. Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim State Constituency) who is Akpabio’s kinsman and henchman in the House rooted for Mr. Ime Okon (Ibiono Ibom) for the speakership contest. 

Again, the gullible were fooled with the zoning argument.

The knock out against Onofiok Luke, I am told, was the argument that since the immediate speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Sam Ikon is from Etinan Federal Constituency in which Nsit Ubium that Luke represents is part of, it was proper for the constituency to produce the next speaker. And they went on to say ‘for the sake of justice and equity’ (You know, in Akpabio’s dictionary the definition of the two words ‘justice’ and ‘equity’ is different from your own definition, and they are subject to sudden changes depending on Akpabio’s interest and mood), let the speaker of the 8^th Assembly come from Uyo Federal Constituency “which hasn’t produced a speaker before”. Take this home, in case you weren’t aware of it, Akpabio in the just concluded general elections robbed the people of Abak Five (the local government areas that were previously under the then Abak local government area) the honour and opportunity of producing a senator, by putting him up for the election and using state funds and private militia to rig his way through to the senate. Okay, when the former governor and his wife, Unoma unsuccessfully push Ime Okon for the speakership position, why didn’t the duo think about zoning? Hmmmm! That zoning argument used against Luke was Akpabio’s April fool against Akwa Ibom people, in the month of June!

If you have the likes of Senator Effiong Bob as your godfather….

….You need to go to sleep, and don’t even think of nursing an aspiration when it lacks the endorsement of Godswill Akpabio and his wife, Unoma. But where is he? Where is this Onofiok Luke’s godfather? You mean to tell me that the distinguished senator who assisted Akpabio to foist Udom Emmanuel on Akwa Ibom people isn’t aware of what his boy has been going through in the hands of the Akpabios? 

Nse Peter is the editor of Think Akwa Ibom!