Akwa Ibom: An uncommon rebellion

                                   

The near unanimity among the ruling class in Akwa Ibom has given way to an unusual rebellion against perceptions normally dubbed as an uncommon transformation. Akwa-Ibom is ostensibly, one of the states in the federation where it had been predictable for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to sweep the polls. The party had swept the polls in the state in 1999, 2003, 2007 and with some resistance from the opposition in 2011.

However, the outlook in 2015 seems to be increasingly fuzzy given the resurgence of the opposition and the internal discords within the ruling party. The emergence of Udom Emmanuel, the former banker and lately government scribe as the governorship candidate of the PDP sufficiently split the ruling party to its foundations. However, the failure of the opposition to unite around one candidate is, however, giving reason to optimists in the PDP that the divided opposition could bark but not give enough bite to stop the return of the party to power.

The opposition is split around three major governorship candidates all of whom were at one time members of the PDP and played significant roles in the enthronement of the present leadership in the state. The four major contenders are Emmanuel, Senator Helen Esuene (Labour), Umana Umana (APC) and Edet Akpan (Accord).

Esuene, LP

MRS. Helen Esuene is the wife of the late popular former governor of the defunct South East State, Brigadier Jacob Esuene. She had served in the second term of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration before she advanced to Senate on the platform of the PDP with a promise to serve only one term.

Her emergence as the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party follows her defection from the PDP after the ruling party refused to heed the supplications of the G22 for free and fair primaries in the state.

Speaking in an interview, Senator Esuene said she is seeking to occupy the Ibom Mansion in order to chart a course for a new Akwa-Ibom State where justice, peace and prudent management of state funds for sustainable progress of the people shall be paramount.

Esuene who hails from Eket Senatorial District, said: “Interestingly, the Labour Party which is our platform has as its primary focus, the development of the human capital while the main thrust of my administration shall be vigorous job creation through agriculture, exposition of art/craft for international market and industrialization, qualitative education, affordable and accessible health care service delivery. “The next administration under my watch will be all inclusive- men, women, youth, traditional rulers, elders and professionals.”

Bishop Samuel Akpan, Accord

THE unique thing about Bishop Akpan is his high cerebral capacity just as he is dreaded for his uncanny strategies, planning and management capability and the added advantage of being easily accepted by people.

Bishop Akpan until recently was one of the close confidants of Governor Akpabio and still remains a family friend of the Akpabio’s family until their recent parting of way.

Be that as it many, Bishop Akpan is highly adored for not spilling the beans but has continued to pursue his governorship ambition with the hope that the governor would realize the quantum of his indebtedness to him for the overall interest of the people of Akwa Ibom State.

His developmental blue print for the state made available to the Vanguard during an interview denotes a rich and all-compassing plane ranging from the agriculture for food security, industrialization for job creation, employment generation and empowerment of the people, culture and tourism for an alternative economic resource, revenue and wealth generation.

“With world class tourism facilities and sites across the state, the quest for the development of the state and its accompanying employment opportunities would be simple.”

Umana Umana, APC

Okon-Umana

FOR Obong Umana Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his blue print is as alluring all as his persisting pursuit of the governorship race so as to address the purported marginalization and discrimination of certain sections of the state in the developmental programme of the PDP-led administration in the state.

Umana is also loud in his promise to tackle the issue of injustice and imbalance in the distribution of political appointments and the commonwealth of the people of the state, irregular payment of staff salaries and of course, the hydra-headed problem of unemployment.

Perhaps, the high point scored by Obong Umana is derived from his promise to raise the bursary award for students of the state origin from N5, 000.00 to N50, 000 to adequately address the sundry challenges of students just as he has promised to expand the industrial base of the state for more employment opportunities to be created for the teeming unemployed population in the state.

Udom Emmanuel, PDP

FOR Emmanuel, the PDP candidate, his focus is to sustain what is described as the ongoing transformation achievements of the incumbent governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio.

Udom Emmanuel

Also on his agenda are the promises to develop the women and the youths and to run a transparent administration where the polices, programmes and investments of the state would be open to the people.

“My mission is to leverage and build on the uncommon transformation agenda of the present administration, to promote unity and oneness of the peoples of the state, to mobilize and develop the women folk, pursue the task of rural development including the provision of all the basic amenities in our rural communities and to foster the unity and development of all the tiers of government” Udom said.

More so, he promised to attract more federal presence to the state to enhance harmonies working relationship and expedited execution of the programmes of his administration.

By all these issue-based campaigns and captivating agenda even with the massive support all the four governorship aspirants are enjoying, it appears that the issue of political platform will not count any longer in the state but the character of the candidates and what the people stand to benefit from their emergence as governor of the state.