Paul Ekpo under pressure to
execute act
Embattled and now out-of-favour
secretary to state government Obong Umana Okon Umana may receive a killer punch
from his boss Chief Godswill Akpabio if developing incidents is not halted half
way. Although his governorship ambition has since been dead and buried, it is
no longer news that in a commando-style approach, UOU was sacked by the
Governor last Monday.
The sack of UOU came as a big
relief to some commissioners who the former SSG is said to have cowed. Apart
from members of the state executive council, some well placed indigenes of the
state in private discussions with THE INK
has described the unceremonious exit of Umana from the corridors of power as a
welcome development.
One of the commissioners from Uyo
Senatorial District who spoke to this reporter said “yak ayong mbok, ke ama
anam mkpo oboho” the cup he used in measuring for others has been used for him.
And another commissioner from Ikot Expene Senatorial District retorted that
“the sack of Umana is a right step that will lead to the focus in the
leadership of the exco. This commissioner was more daring when he said “Da how
can a common SSG who was not even screened by the House of Assembly become so
powerful. It is good that he is now part of history in this exco and I want to
tell you that all the minor challenges and infighting here will stop.
THE INK gathered that while the commando style that was used by
Akpabio to execute the sack of Umana lasted, the Governor is alleged to have
set up machinery in his efforts to expel the Nsit Ubium born ex finance
commissioner. The newspaper gathered that Governor Akpabio had fear that if
Umana could have the temerity to challenge him in a heated argument like the
one that led to his (Umana’s) sack, then his 2015 succession plans should hit
the rock. The Governor is said to have began a high powered consultation among
some close confidants where the idea of expelling the former SSG was reached. And
this action was to be carried out in the mix that ensued during the locking out
of the former SSG. This was actually to ensure that Umana’s troubles are
compounded, THE INK learnt.
How the Governor later dropped
this plot at that time could not be ascertained. But a high placed Ukana source
informed THE INK that the idea of
expelling Umana from the PDP will be resuscitated as soon as possible and or
very close to the PDP gubernatorial primaries.
Party chairman Obong Paul Ekpo
have been put under serious pressure to ensure that whenever the Governor wants
this done, it is actualized. Before the plot to expel Obong Umana from the PDP
was suspended for now temporarily by Gov. Akpabio, Paul Ekpo is said to have
been contacted and all documents made ready for the action. The issue is said
to have taken Paul Ekpo by surprise but that the party boss did not have a
choice. It was learnt that at this time, Obong Paul Ekpo was waiting for the
killer punch of information to sign the sack letter. Sources close to the Governor
and Paul Ekpo hinted that Obong Umana would have been accused of indiscipline
and insubordination to the party and the governor. With these accusations,
Umana Umana would have been nailed and he would have since last Tuesday ceased
to become a member of the PDP.
Investigations reveal that
suspending the expulsion of Umana from the PDP at least for now is a clear
delay of the evil days. A Government House source told our reporter that the
former SSG is not even safe with his ambition as any attempt by Umana to speak
more than what is expected of him will land him in trouble. THE INK was reliably informed that the
state Governor Obong Godswill Akpabio has instructed the state PDP boss Obong
Paul Ekpo that upon his instructions, he intends Paul Ekpo to weild the big
stick on Umana and sends the ex-SSG away from the PDP.
With this development and more
coming from the governor, it was revealed that the government house strategists
through Obong Paul Ekpo has extended its hands to the Nsit Ubium chapter chairman
of the PDP and his exco as well as the ward chairman of Ndiya ward 1 where
Obong Umana hails. These party officers of Nsit Ubium have also been placed on
standby on the likely sack of Obong Umana from the PDP when the time is ripe.
But a section of the elders of
the state have been making appeals to the Governor Godswill Akpabio not to
overheat the party by sacking the former SSG from the PDP unceremoniously just
like he did to the man while in office as SSG. Among those said to have been
appealing on behalf of the out-of-favour Umana Umana is the Ntisong Ibibio
Obong Essien Ekidem. The Royal father is said to have assured that he will take
the message of appeal to the governor.
Watchers of the unfolding drama
had informed the newspaper that this is a typical Akpabio in action who is
always playing a politics of “attack, kill and bury”. They opined that Akpabio
is seeking the genesis and end of Umana’s political career. They cited the
cases of Udoedehe which Akpabio fought out of PDP as well as Ambassador Sam
Edem which Akpabio is said to have brought to the grounds. The unfolding plot
to sack Umana from PDP if it sees the light of the day will mean the governor
had thrown a killer punch on his former close confidant.
The chairman of the PDP Obong
Paul Ekpo said he is not aware of the plot to sack Umana from the party. While
speaking to THE INK on Sunday night via a phone call, the party boss said “the
person who gave you the information should be able to expantiate because I
don’t talk about the things I don’t know”
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