Revealed: Real reasons Akpabio is desperate about imposing Udom Emmanuel on Akwa Ibom people

It is no longer news that Governor Godswill Akpabio is hell-bent on imposing his business partner, Udom Emmanuel, on the good people of Akwa Ibom state by all means. What may be news, however, is the motive behind the governor’s desperation.

Exclsuive: Akpabio's plot to scuttle Jonathan's second term ambition exposed!

…as 4 northern governors alert Presidency over evil plot

Attempts by Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State to bribe four northern governors in order for the governors to withdraw their support for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 may have backfired as the governors were said to have reported the matter to the presidency, also tendering their bribe money as evidence of Akpabio’s untoward behaviour.

 It emerged early in the week that  Akpabio, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, is unhappy with  the presidency over the issuance of automatic ticket for his senatorial bid. He was said to have reached out to four of his very influential counterparts in the north to enlist their support in scuttling the president’s rumoured second term ambition.

However, in a dramatic twist and shocked by their colleague’s errant behaviour of overtly declaring support for the president whilst secretly working against him, the quad immediately alerted the presidency to be careful about the way the state house relates with the governor of the oil-rich state. They told the president that the same Akpabio that pledges support for him in the open was actually working against him secretly. The four northern governors also reportedly tendered evidence of the bribe that Akpabio offered them to buttress their story.

Our sources added that the bribery scandal was just one of the many secret plots of the governor of the 'Land of Promise' to undermine the integrity of the president and possibly destroy his aspirations. It was releaved that  Akpabio has been throwing around obscene amount of money in foreign currencies at stakeholders to withdraw their support for the president.

It would be recalled that the President had earlier on in the year barred Governor Akpabio from the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, over his inappropriate conducts of spraying dollars  and pounds on security personnel and other presidential aides.

The ban, according to our source, also came about on account of a series of errant behaviour and disrespect meant to undermine the person and office of the President by governor Akpabio.

As a sign of remorse, Akpabio was said to have begged the President in person for his untoward behaviour with a promise to turn a new leaf. Apart from personally begging the President we learnt that Akpabio also sent elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, to plead for forgiveness from the President on his behalf.

Now that the governor’s colleagues have blown the whistle on him, it is left for the embattled Akpabio to devise a plan to appease the president who was said to have been deeply shocked and disappointed by the revelation of the four northern governors about Akpabio’s dirty schemes

Udom’s first campaign rally ends in bloody riot!

The rally in Uyo yesterday by Udom Emmanuel, former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, to signal his declaration of intent to contest the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) snowballed into a bloody riot. As we report, the riot, staged by rented crowds hired to give the declaration a semblance of significance, is spreading along Nsikak Eduok Avenue axis of the city where Udom’s campaign office is located.

SPECIAL REPORT: THE CONTENDERS AND PRETENDERS IN THE AKWA IBOM GOVERNORSHIP RACE! PART 2

The oraclenaija brings you the concluding part of our special report on contenders and pretenders for the Hilltop Mansion, the Akwa Ibom State government house in 2015 as we promised. Please enjoy

Treasury looting: Akpabio bribes Umana with $6m

 ... refuses to drop more money

The Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio is said to have bribed his former SSG and governorship aspirant, Obong Umana Okon Umana with the sum of $6m to prevent the ex-SSG from blowing the whistle over the theft of the sum of N47b belonging to the Akwa Ibom State government.

SPECIAL REPORT: THE CONTENDERS AND PRETENDERS IN THE AKWA IBOM GOVERNORSHIP RACE!

With the commencement of the sale of nomination forms nationwide to aspirants by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), the stage is now set for an epic contest in the Akwa Ibom State 2015 gubernatorial race. Already, over 20 aspirants from the three senatorial districts who have indicated interest in the governorship of the oil -rich state are expected to pick up their nomination forms.

 TheOraclenaija here presents a catalogue of the contenders who are desirous of succeeding Governor Godswill Akpabio  as well as the perceived pretenders in the hot race ahead:

 1.     Obong Umana Okon Umana – is the immediate past SSG of Akwa Ibom State. He was kicked out of his plum job as SSG by Governor Godswill Akpabio in July 2013 for flouting the rules of engagement and declaring to run for the office of governor, while still holding the position of SSG. Umana rose from humble beginnings as a former teacher at the Cross River State School of Basic Studies, Akamkpa, through the civil service and is seen as a seasoned technocrat. Umana joined the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service in 1989 as Principal Budget Officer and rose to the position of State Director of Budge before his appointment as Fianace Commissioner by ex-governor Before his ouster from government, Umana was quite an influential politician who decided the fate of many. The former strong man of Akwa Ibom politics is an Ibibio from Uyo Senatorial District and a serious contender.

2.  Obong Bassey Albert Akpan – an economist, banker and financial expert with a rich private/public sector experience.  He was the state Finance Commissioner from the inception of the Akpabio administration in 2007 until last April. A native of Ididep Usuk in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Akpan was said to have been axed from his former position by a high-powered political manoeuvring, in the aftermath of the succession crisis rocking his home state. TheOracleNaija findings reveal that Bassey Albert Akpan is hugely popular across board, especially among the youths and even the royal institution in the state. Akpan is voted a serious contender for the governorship of the state. He is an Ibibio from Uyo Senatorial District.

3. Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel – is the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State government. Until his appointment as SSG Udom was Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc from December 2006. A corporate strategist and an experienced private sector player. Udom hails from Awa Eket in Onna Local Government Area of the Eket Senatorial District. Udom is believed to be Governor Akpabio’s anointed candidate. His tacit endorsement by the governor has generated a lot of tension in the state. Udom is voted a serious contender. He has vowed to run with or without the support of Governor Godswill Akpabio.

4.     Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim – is the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. He hails from Okobo Local Government Area of  the state. Findings by the Oraclenaija reveals that he’s being used by the governor to garner support from the Oron area for the governor’s candidate. Ntekim is thought to be a pretender in the race.

5.     Mr. Okon Iyanam- is a marketing communication expert and former Executive Director of Globacom. He is an indigene of Oyubia in Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area of the Eket Senatorial District. Iyanam is, perhaps banking on his family pedigree as he has no known antecedent in party politics. Son of the late Uquo Iyanam, a seasoned technocrat and illustrious Oron son. He is the brother of Victor Iyanam who had served the Akpabio administration as Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice. Iyanam is a social media enthusiast who holds online consultations. He is referred to as the Internet aspirant and could pass for a pretender.

6.     Mrs Helen Esuene – former First Lady of old Cross River State and widow of Brigadier-General U.J. Esuene. She is a serving Senator representing the Eket Senatorial District in Nigeria’s Upper Legislative Chamber. She once served as the Minister of State for Women Affairs in the Obasanjo administration. The delectable grandmother appears to be the only woman in the race.

7.    Obong  Nsima Ekere – former deputy of Governor Godswill Akpabio in his second term in office and former Chairman of Akipoc. Ekere is an Ibibio from Ikot Abasi Local government of Eket Senatorial District. A serious contender.

8.     Mr. Effion Abia Ekpenyon is the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He was dismissed from the state executive council for showing interst in the governoship race, but has since been compensated with an appojintment as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and chieftaincy affairs. Abia is an Oron man from Mbo Local government of the state. Abia is believed to be a pretender in the race.

9.      Chief Benjamin Okoko - a quantity surveyor from Ikot Abasi is a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary and erstwhile Works Commissioner in Akwa Ibom state.  Benji, as he’s fondly called was once believed to be governor Akpabio’s Plan B candidate but it would appear things have changed. Okoko had vied for the PDP governorship ticket in 1998 alongside former Governor Attah, but was prevailed upon by Elders of the Eket Senatoial District to step down for Obong Victor Attah, in order to allow a candidate from the Uyo Senatorial District to complete their tenure. Despite his touted popularity, however, many have questioned his seriousness in the governorship contest. This is because Okoko is seen as a businessman who has only come out to run for governor in order to receive monetary compensation from whoever he steps down for just like he did in 1998 and 2007. He’s believed to be a pretender.

10.  Larry Esin -  a serial contender from Oron. He’s been in the Akwa Ibom  governorship race for as long as anyone can remember.  He came third in the governorship primaries of 2007 defeating Etiebet and Ime Umana. Esin is voted a pretender whose current political platform remains unknown.



To be continued....

Akpabio Administration sinks Akwa Ibom in debt!

As the tenure of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, winds to a close, concerned indigenes of the state are deeply worried about the huge debt profile of the oil-rich state that receives the highest allocation from the federation account and wondering whether his successor would have funds for developmental projects.