The announcement on Sunday of a successor by Akwa Ibom
State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, during a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) stakeholders in the state, has continued to raise reactions by
politicians in the state.
Emmanuel presented Pastor Eno Umoh as his anointed
successor at a stakeholders' meeting held at the Government House in Uyo, the
state capital, claiming God chose the Commissioner for Lands and Water
Resources to be the next governor in 2023.
However, the selection of Umoh as Emmanuel's chosen
candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial election has divided sentiment in the
state, with lawmakers who had hoped to compete for the position expressing
their disappointment.
The announcement has also divided the PDP in the state
as a mixed bag of uneasy calm has continued to engulf the state.
Various reactions have been presented on the choice
with some believing that Umoh is the right man to continue with Emmanuel’s
legacies, while others believe the imposition of the Commissioner negates the
spirit of fairness, equity and democracy the party stands for.
The first sign that all was not well at the
stakeholders’ meeting was the absence of notable stakeholders as the
Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Akan Okon, who is
also a governorship aspirant, was absent.
Also absent was the Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, Ini Emembong, who is also rumoured to be aspiring to throw in his hat
for the governorship position.
A party stalwart who was at the meeting, confided in
Ripples Nigeria that the Governor’s sudden announcement of Umoh as his
successor took many by surprise, which led to many stakeholders storming out of
the meeting.
“Everyone at the meeting was surprised when Gov. Udom
Emmanuel announced the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Eno
Umoh, as his anointed candidate for 2023.
“What was more disturbing was that the Governor did
not consult with the party stakeholders before making the announcement.
“And on several occasions, he had denied any plan to
impose a successor. So, we were all surprised at the sudden turn around.
Everyone was disappointed at the move.”
Also reacting to the announcement, a member of the
House of Representatives and one of the leading aspirants in the state, Onofiok
Luke, took to his Facebook page on Monday to register his grievances at
Emmanuel’s moves.
Luke who is the Chairman, House Committee on
Judiciary, challenged the Governor to defend Umoh’s choice to the public.
“Out of respect and as a loyal party man, I honoured
an innocent invitation from the governor for a meeting on Sunday evening at the
lodge.
“At the meeting, my brother from my local government
and federal constituency, Pastor Umo Eno, was presented as the choice of the
governor for succession.
“It was at the said meeting that I heard of the agenda
and choice for the first time and no one held any discussion with me before the
meeting.
“I am not against the choice of the governor coming
from my local government, the Federal Constituency nor the aspiration of my
brother.
“However, as a fellow aspirant from the same local
government at the same advantage when successful, my aspiration to serve the
state in the capacity of the governor remains on course
“”I’m not against their endorsement; and I’m not
against the elders of the state. But I’m saying the endorsement could have
happened after proper consultation.
“I went to Obong Attah and told him ‘why didn’t you
talk to all of us who are in this race? Why didn’t you talk to Sen Bassey
Albert? Why didn’t you talk to Akan Udofia? Why didn’t you talk to Akan Okon?
Why didn’t you talk to James Iniama?’
“We would have loved their endorsement but that would
have been after due consultation. But whoever they would endorse should be the
choice of the majority of people in the state
“So, for me as Onofiok Akpan Luke, I am in the
governorship race. I am going to stand election on the platform of my party,
the PDP. I am not part of that endorsement at all.
“But I respect their views; I respect the opinion and
choice of the governor. I respect Obong Victor Attah and the opinion of the
elders of the state. It is their choice. I only respect their opinion; but I am
not in support of what they are doing.
“I was ambushed. I didn’t know the agenda of the
meeting but I had to respect the governor and attend the meeting. I had raised
my hand, seeking to be allowed to speak but I was ignored.
Supporting the endorsement of Umoh by Emmanuel, the
National Co-ordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), and the immediate
past National Legal Adviser to the PDP, Emmanuel Enoidem, said the Governor did
the right thing by announcing his successor at the time he did.
Enoidem called on all party stakeholders to support
the governor’s choice, adding “God has chosen him to be the next governor of
the state.”
“The choice of Pastor Eno Umoh came after a series of
consultations with relevant stakeholders and prayers to God. We all have to
support him as he is God’s anointed,” Enoidem said.
The Governor, on Monday, also insisted that his
decision was in the best interest of the state as his successor is the right
man to steer the ship of the state and carry on with his legacies.
“I waited for God to reveal to me the one who would
continue with the development strides recorded in the state in the last six
years.
“I mean well for this state, that is why I waited for
God to show me the man who would continue with the pace of developmental
strides we have started in the last six-plus years and then move the needle
even further,” he said in an interview with a television station in the state.
Also supporting the Governor’s announcement, Chief
Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udo, said “God picked Eno as the next
governor.”
“The governor announced that he (Eno) was the one God
has revealed to him as the next governor of the state and he was unveiled to
all the stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of the state by the
former governor, Obong Victor Attah, who then commended the choice.
“It was an array of the political elders made up of
senators and House of Representatives members,” Udo said.
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