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.


We were reliably told that the maverick politician who recently visited
death threats on his political opponents and perceived enemies in the state now prefers the safety of his native Ukana Ikot Ntuen village to the
comfort and opulence of the government House in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State
capital. The governor’s village, Ukana Ikot Ntuen is located in Essien Udim
Local Government Area of the state, about 45 minutes’ drive from the state
capital.
“The governor only comes to work in Uyo, the few times he comes around  here
but sleeps in his village after work”, volunteered a source who begged not
to be named, but added,” maybe he doesn't trust the people around him
anymore, and stays in Abuja most of the time”.
The decision of the controversial governor to operate from his village may
not be unconnected with the political tension in the state emanating from
his scheming to impose his business partner, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, whom he
appointed Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government about a year ago, as
his anointed successor on the state. However, Akpabio’s imposition plan is
said to have met with stiff opposition from indigenes of the state who have
vowed to resist every such attempt, and instead are insisting on a free and
open contest for every aspirant in the state, irrespective of ethnic
origin.
Akpabio’s unilateral zoning of the governorship position to the Eket
Senatorial District is believed to have pitted the peace loving people of
the state against one another in a battle for supremacy.
 It would be recalled that governor Akpabio recently shocked the National
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and
other party stalwarts at the ground breaking ceremony for the PDP
secretariat, when he openly declared that death awaited politicians seeking
to take power through the back door in the state. Akpabio also recently
incurred the wrath and consternation of the human race with the enactment
of his controversial pension law, which he also had to repeal.
By wanting to impose his preferred candidate on the state, indigenes of
Akwa Ibom believe that the governor’s is merely trying to seek an
unconstitutional third term by proxy.