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.

Akpabio accused of siphoning N47B in 8 months... plus the Umana Umana angle

It has been revealed that in the eight months between July 2013 and March 2014 the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio colluded with his friends and family members to siphon a total of N47 billion belonging to the state.

Governor Akpabio renews frantic search for successor

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State is said to have begun a fresh hunt for a credible candidate from the Eket Senatorial District who would take over the reins of leadership of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State as governor in 2015.

2015 Revelation: Akpabio's devious plan to take the Akpan Brothers Out of the Race!

It is no longer news that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, is bent on stopping his former Finance Commissioner, Bassey Albert Akpan from succeeding him in 2015. What is news, perhaps, is the devious manner in which the governor is going about his campaign of calumny against Akpan. TheOracleNaija can authoritatively reveal how the governor plans to scuttle the governorship ambition of his erstwhile closest commissioner.

Akpabio in messy multi billion Naira deals!

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, his brother and the Managing Director of one of Nigeria leading banks, (the name of the Bank starts with
one of the first four letters of the alphabet) are currently at daggers
drawn over a deal that has gone bad between them.

2015 Succession Plot: Akpabio Squanders LG Funds!

• Forces chairmen to  sign off over N2Billion
•  Pockets N1.6Billion 
• ..as ALGON fights over N130!

The latest victim of the funding of the Udom Emmanuel must be governor project of Godswill Akpabio is the 2.1Billion Naira one percent statutory savings of local governments in the last five years which was meant for agricultural projects.

Reports reaching Midweek Concord indicates that, the 31 local government Chairmen in Akwa Ibom State were recently coerced to sign off the money. In a meeting which held in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and presided over by the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, saw the governor carting home the sum of 1.6Billion Naira.

 According to a very reliable source, each local government chairman went home with 10Million Naira totaling 310Million Naira for the 31 local government chairmen for accepting to trade off the savings to Governor Akpabio.

A source close to the Council helmsmen told our reporter that they were forced to sign the documents stating that the money was withdrawn from a Zenith Bank branch in Uyo.

 The source continued that, the sum of 130Million Naira was given to ALGON executive. But the bubble busted when the governor’s cousin, Sir Emem Akpabio who is known in political circles as godfather got 20Million Naira from the ALGON’s money, the governor’s wife 20Million Naira, Paul Ekpo, 10Million Naira, Commissioner for Finance, Akan Okon, 10Million Naira, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, 10Million Naira and the Accountant General, Udo Isobara, 10Million Naira

 Our source who pleaded anonymity wondered why the governor would leave his exalted office and condescend to preside over a meeting of local government chairmen and their money all because he wants to impose his anointed candidate as governor of the state.

 Our investigations further reveal that, the over 2Billion Naira withdrawn from Zenith Bank, Udom Emmanuel’s former bank, translates to the one percent statutory deductions from local governments account meant for agricultural projects in the 31 local government areas of the state saved in the last five years.

 Meanwhile, the media has been awash with reports that Akwa Ibom State is indebted to contractors to the tune of over 390Billion naira and another 100Billion Naira bank loan.

Speaking to our reporter in the telephone discussion, a senior citizen of the state and stalwart of All Progressive Congress warned that whoever will succeed Akpabio will carry the burden of explaining to Akwa Ibom people what exactly happened during Godswill Akpabio’s tenure. According to him, “Godswill told Akwa Ibom people that he inherited an empty treasury. What will he say he left behind in the treasury if reports of our indebtedness are true?” He called on the appropriate federal agencies to swing into action and investigate the mindless fraud which the Akpabio administration is being accused of especially now that he has demonstrated his desire to confront Akwa Ibom people with his self succession plan.

2015 Abracadabra: Akpabio moves to set the Albert brothers against each other!

Wonders shall never end in this country especially in the oil rich city of Akwa Ibom State. News filtering  indicate that seeing his immediate past commissioner for finance, Bassey Albert Akpan as his main headache in the bid to impose his will on the state , Governor Godswill Akpabio brought out loads of money to lure the former commissioner 's brother Ime Albert to bid for the gubernatorial seat. We hear

Our sources said that because of the quality of support that Bassey Albert has all over the state, the governor reckons that do dividing the Albert family ‎and has gone ahead to entice Ime . How this will work however remains to ve seen as the family and community where the Alberts come from have totally declared their support for the younger brother.

Trouble in Umana's camp as he loses supporters to Benjamin Okoko

The entrance of Chief Benjamin Okoko into the 2015 governorship contest in Akwa Ibom state is already causing a stir as loyalists and supporters have abandoned Obong Umana Okon Umana and have already queued up behind Okoko as their preferred governorship aspirant.

Akpabio is an experienced killer – Assam Assam

In this interview with COMMUNITY PULSE, the very vocal diplomat, Chief Assam

Assam, SAN, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia and Belarus spoke extensively on his recent letter to the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and the rejoinders that have followed suit. Below are excerpts of the interview as culled from Community Pulse:

2015 Tension: Akpabio abandons the Hilltop Mansion, Moves to Village!

All may not be well in the "Land of Promise "as the Akwa Ibom State
governor, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, is rumoured to have abandoned the luxury of the famous Hilltop Mansion, as the Akwa Ibom government house is called, preferring to operate from his village anytime he visits the state. The Governor is said to reside mostly in Abuja.

AK 2015 Death Threat:' Persuade Akpabio Not To Kill Us', Aspirant Writes Udom!

A governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Chief Assam E. Assam, SAN has
written to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel on the
threat by Governor Godswill Akpabio to assassinate political opponents in
the state.
The text of the open letter, culled from Facebook, is published below.

Tension as Akpabio threatens political opponents with death!

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state recently shocked the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and other dignitaries when he openly declared that death awaited politicians who were not loyal to him  in the state.

Umana set to spend N25 billion to become governor

Former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government and governorship aspirant, Obong Umana Okon Umana, has allegedly budgeted a staggering N25 billion to prosecute his gubernatorial campaign in the hope of actualising his long-held ambition of becoming the next governor of Akwa Ibom state in

2015.

Akwa Ibom 2015:  Udom Emmanuel  Gets into trouble with National Chairman of PDP ...for Flouting Electoral Laws!

Stooge of Akwa Ibom State Governor and Secretary to the State Government,Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has run into trouble with the National Headquaters of the Peoples Democratic Party, to his office in Abuja over allegations of the early flag-off of controversial  electioneering campaign.

Assassination allegation: Police beef up security around royal fathers in Akwa Ibom  opposed to Akpabio 

Akwa Ibom State Police Command has beefed up security around traditional rulers following allegation of plots to assassinate royal fathers assumed not favourably disposed to electioneering processes towards 2015. This is according to sunnewsonline.com

NEWS ALERT: UYO GETS TOO HOT FOR AKPABIO!

For a myriad of spiteful things which the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, chief Godswill has brought upon himself, theoraclenaija.blogspot.com can report that the city of Uyo has become too hot for him at the moment.

 2015: AKPABIO'S  HYPOCRISY REVEALED!

…RENOUNCED CULTISM IN THE MORNING IN WINNERS      CHAPEL, 

• MEETS 100 CULTISTS IN THE NIGHT SAME DAY

• …THREE PERSONS SHOT DEAD IN THE AFTERMATH OF MEETING

As the race for who occupies the Hiltop Mansion (seat of Akwa Ibom State Government) in 2015 continues, the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has been caught in a web of hypocrisy in his determined effort to fool Akwa Ibom State people and deceive them to support his unrelenting agenda of imposing his Secretary to Government, Udom Emmanuel as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015.

2015: Akpabio Moves Against  Albert Akpan! 

… Pays 25 Million to Political Jobbers

Smarting from the meeting he had with his Annang kindred last Tuesday at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo where he begged them to stand by him to finally put to rest the perceived Ibibio hegemony in the State, Gov. Akpabio in another closed door meeting held in the same venue in the wee hours of Sunday 25th may, 2014 with those who could be described as political jobbers and spent-forces from Ibiono Ibom, pleaded with them to support his SSG, Udom Emmanuel as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015.

 Umana Petitions Police IG, NSA as Akpabio denies involvement in attempted assassination 

Former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State government, Umana Okon Umana's lawyers have petitioned the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd); the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar  and the Director-General,Department of State Services, Ita Ekpenyong on the assassination of perceived state enemies.

2015: “I Will Remove Mua’zu”-Akpabio Boasts

Ahead of the 2015 elections, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio may be heading for a showdown with the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu.

Tension in Uyo over fear of political killings

There is tension all over the oil rich state of Akwa Ibom at the moment over fears that hired killers are on the trail of some politicians opposed to the twin ambition of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s bid for the Senate and imposition of the Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Udom, as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2015 election. Sources told us this is reminiscent of the incessant bloodletting that the state witnessed in the wake of the general elections in 2011.

According to a report in The Punch of Wednesday May 14, 2014,   “the visit by suspected assassins to the Uyo office of the immediate past board Chairman, Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company Limited, Mr. Soni Udom, on Monday, May 5, 2014, is a pointer to this supposition. This incident, which is the latest in a series, in recent times, is a sad reminder to residents of the state that the era of politics of bloodshed appears to be back in the state.”
On the volume of bloodletting that had greeted the 2011 elections, The Punch, quoting a report by the Nigeria Police said that: “The police report said in 2009 alone, Akwa Ibom recorded 177 murders (most of which are said to be politically motivated), 62 attempted murders, one manslaughter, eight suicides, 21 attempted suicides, 320 assaults, 18 child stealing, 93 rape cases and indecent assaults, 29 kidnappings, among others. The 2011 figures marked a remarkable increase when compared to 2007.
Soni Udom who was lucky to be out of his office at the time of the visit of the hoodlums told the newspaper: “I was highly disturbed about the mission of the gunmen because since I’ve been using this office in the last seven years there has never been a single incident of criminal operation in broad daylight around this neighbourhood.” According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen, five in number, came into the premises and held the security man and staff including students on Industrial Training and a National Youth Service Corps member hostage at gunpoint. They seized their mobile phones and started ransacking the office room-to-room, breaking into toilets, looking for me. The gunmen were well armed as some of them had two pistols strapped to their waists. When some of them started seizing phones from my staff, one of the gunmen shouted, ‘Is that what we came for?’ In anger, he shot at the hand of the one collecting phones from my workers, cutting off a finger in the process. But in spite of the serious injury, the suspected assassin that was shot still went into all the other rooms, broke the toilets to look for me.”
We learnt that stakeholders in the state have appealed to the state government to step up security as a way to safeguard lives and property even as many of the opponents to the governor vowed that he would neither get the senate seat which belongs to the Abak people nor succeed in imposing a governor on the state.

Udom power-drunken even before nomination 

Even though he is yet to be officially nominated as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for next year’s gubernatorial elections, Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Udom, is already behaving like a king in his manor. Sources in the state told TheOraclenaija that Udom has carried on like a de-facto governor over the past few weeks. This, of course, is in connivance with his godfather, Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is bent on imposing him on the people of the state no matter what anyone says.

This, according to our sources would account for the decision of the governor to leave the announcement of the recent cabinet reshuffle to Udom while he tactically took a trip out of Uyo, and did not deem it fit for the Deputy Governor who is next to him to convey the decision to cabinet members. “This was a way of telling everyone that he has made up his mind about making Udom the next governor of the state.”

Prior to the cabinet reshuffle announcement, sources told us that Udom has got so power drunk that he has even started to openly castigate the Akpabio administration, calling the governor a reckless man and promising to upturn most of the things that Akapbio claims to have done in his eight years the moment he is elected Governor.

Earlier this year, Udom displayed a reckless thirst for power when he published a personal thank you advertisement in the newspapers on the official letter head of the State. Not a few people felt alarmed at this obscene display of power just a few months after he became SSG. Days after he withdrew the said advertorial only to replace it with another carrying the logo of the office of SSG. Many people in the state are wondering how Akpabio will sell the candidature of this seemingly power drunk man.

Udom power-drunken even before nomination

Even though he is yet to be officially nominated as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for next year’s gubernatorial elections, Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Udom, is already behaving like a king in his manor. Sources in the state told TheOraclenaija that Udom has carried on like a de-facto governor over the past few weeks. This, of course, is in connivance with his godfather, Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is bent on imposing him on the people of the state no matter what anyone says.

This, according to our sources would account for the decision of the governor to leave the announcement of the recent cabinet reshuffle to Udom while he tactically took a trip out of Uyo, and did not deem it fit for the Deputy Governor who is next to him to convey the decision to cabinet members. “This was a way of telling everyone that he has made up his mind about making Udom the next governor of the state.”

Prior to the cabinet reshuffle announcement, sources told us that Udom has got so power drunk that he has even started to openly castigate the Akpabio administration, calling the governor a reckless man and promising to upturn most of the things that Akapbio claims to have done in his eight years the moment he is elected Governor.

Earlier this year, Udom displayed a reckless thirst for power when he published a personal thank you advertisement in the newspapers on the official letter head of the State. Not a few people felt alarmed at this obscene display of power just a few months after he became SSG. Days after he withdrew the said advertorial only to replace it with another carrying the logo of the office of SSG. Many people in the state are wondering how Akpabio will sell the candidature of this seemingly power drunk man.

2015: Akpabio Spends N5Billion on Toyota Corolla Cars to bribe delegates!

As we count down to 2015 election year, there seems to be a new twist with respect to who succeeds the incumbent Governor of Akwa Ibom State. It is no longer news that Governor Akpabio has anointed his successor and the people of Akwa Ibom State have also drawn a line between Akpabio’s inordinate disguised third term ambition. What is news rather is the startling revelation that the Governor is determined to bring down if possible the Walls of Jericho to ensure that Udom Emmanuel, an unknown political quantity is imposed as Governor of Akwa Ibom State on reasons best known to the Governor.

The scary revelation according to very impeccable source is the purchase of over 1000 Toyota Corolla cars which is to be given to each delegate in the state as inducement to support Governor Akpabio’s anointed candidate. The source who did not want his name mentioned in print expressed shock at the level Governor Akpabio could go just to fulfill his ambitions.

The source decried Akpabio’s failure to fulfill his second term campaign promise of establishing one industry in each local government area of the State. According to the source, “does the Governor have the fainted idea what N5Billion can do to our economy?”

Speaking exclusively to our reporter, a political stakeholder in the State described Akpabio’s action as near insanity. He reminded the Governor of the incidences which led to his emergence as Governor 2007. “Despite all the money Obong Attah spent with the machinery of government at his disposal, Attah could not impose his son-inlaw on the people of Akwa Ibom State. We have heard the Governor boast that God starts where money ends and let me tell him that the God of Akwa Ibom State will not let Akpabio’s taunt go unchallenged.”

A spirit-filled man of God who spoke on condition of anonymity noted that Akpabio will leave office unceremoniously because of his haughtiness and presumptuousness. He wondered why a man with a humble beginning such as Akpabio would later deride God’s grace for self elevation. In his words, the clergyman said, “if Godswill Akpabio is not careful, if he does not retreat from the path of self glorification, if he does not ascribe his rise to power to God publicly, if he does not desist from squandering the common wealth of the people, if he continues to deceitfully disunite this state with his antics of zoning or no zoning, the God of Israel who enthroned and dethroned Saul as King of Israel will make Himself manifest to Godswill Akpabio.”

An unemployed University Graduate, Inemesit Etuk, urged the Governor to invest and diversify the State’s economy to create jobs for millions of unemployed graduates. He observed that had the Governor concentrated on developing Ibaka Seaport and the Science Park, the youths of this State would have remembered him for a very long time. The unemployed business graduate said that the potentials of the Seaport and the Science Park alone would have created millions of skills related jobs and that would have reduced  political tension in the State in the sense that youths wouldn’t have been available for thuggery and other inhuman jobs.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has been given a conditional proposal by the Akpabio led PDP Governors for Jonathan’s re-election in 2015. According to media reports, the conditions include among others the imposition of their successors as well as giving automatic tickets to Governors who are willing to contest senatorial seats. But a Presidential source who spoke to our correspondent in strict confidence described the purported proposal as ambitious, self-centered, egoistic, greedy and lacking democratic merit.

He wondered why Governors whose tenures will expire on May 29, 2015 are desperate to anoint their successors at the same time demanding a seat in the hallowed chambers of the Senate. To him, it is “a sign of fear of life after office.” Continuing, the source said that the Presidency seriously views the actions of Akpabio and his co-travelers as a stab in the back and a well oiled ambush of the President.

Concluding, the source reiterated the President’s and the Party’s earlier position that there will be no automatic tickets in PDP.