Attah’s men return to capture power * Akpabio’s ors kick

                                
 

* It will be fight to finish – Analysts

Proponents of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s yet unannounced anointed successor may have to double up their bid if they are to help Akpabio succeed in the choice of his successor. This is as a result of the re-emergence of Ex-governor Attah’s boys to take back power by 2015.
It was learnt that not some politicians who are still loyalists of Attah have indicated interest in different elective positions come next general elections.

In the lineup of Attah’s boys include Usenobong Akpabio who is eyeing the senate seat for Uyo Senatorial District Pat Ifon who is said to be eyeing the governorship, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu also linked to Akpabio’s job by 2015. Others who are also working silently to seize power from Akpabio and his boys are, Barr Joe Ukpong, an APC strongman, Dr. Anny Asikpo, Hon. Eseme Eyibo, Dr. Udoma Ekarika, Hon. Emmanuel Obot.
At a meeting held last month in Abuja, politicians who cut their teeth under ex-governor Attah’s tutelage are said to have promised that 2015 should be payback time for the governor, Godswill Akpabio. Those in this school of thoughts argue that the state governor has so far not been fair to them and especially the ex Governor as he have completely abandoned them and hence, why they wish to align together to form a formidable team to fight the status quo.

It was learnt that even the former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Barr Udomfang belong to the clique and the Abak legal luminary is ready to do war with Aniekan Umanah, the state commissioner for information for the Abak Constituency seat. It was learnt that Attah’s boys seeking a change in the direction of power will be challenging for all available positions from the senate to the House of Assembly positions. For instance in Uyo, Barr Usenobong Akpabio is interested in the senate and in Ikot Ekpene it is likely that Anny Asikpo may throw his hat into the ring for the contest or at most may identify a politician from the Abak 5 axis and support. Barr Joe Ukpong may likely consider the mission and he will be running on the platform of the new APC. Attah’s men are present in all the federal constituencies and are in line for the next elections.

Although some of these persons are yet to inform ex Governor Attah officially of their intent, political sources had informed our political desk over the weekend shortly after the 26th Anniversary State Banquet that Obong Attah is being briefed of these developments. And as the election year draws closer, the ex Governor will start entertaining these set of guests in his own domain. The newspaper learnt that the sacked SSG Obong Umana Umana may have wanted to belong to this school of thought but that his fight against Obong Attah when he served as the state Secretary to Government becomes his albatross. Although Emmanuel Obot, a source said have promised to reconcile Attah and Umana, pundits believe that the sacked Umana is yet to make up his mind on whether to visit Obong Attah for a reconciliation.

One of the prospective aspirants who openly boasted to this reporter that he is an Attah’s boy said “our state is tired of Akpabiocracy in the name of government. A situation where one family is claiming monopoly of all the sectors of the state for six years running now is totally uncalled for and unacceptable. We need to change the status quo and return power to the people”. He added that if the trend is not checked, the next eight years from 2015 will be worse.

Our source a former commissioner said, the Attah’s boys die-hard interest in the next election is to rescue the state from untold hardship, economic backwardness, societal ills and a collapse state.
But Akpabio boys are of the opinion that Ex Governor Attah’s boys have to realize that power have since left them. They have however promised to fight back in all the positions they wish to contest for. 

It was gathered that even though some of the Attah boys had at a point in time betrayed the ex Governor, the consensus is that there is a need for them to use the forthcoming 2015 general elections to mend fences and reintegrate the former Governor into the scheme of things. This will not be achieved easily as Akpabio’s men have vowed to ensure that someone from the Akpabio political class is encouraged to win the election for whatever positions they so desire especially that of the Governorship. It was gathered from impeccable sources that Ukana believes that they will not be protected if they allow an Attah political son to emerge the next Governor or if they allow the Attahs to get the better of the positions they intend to vie for. A PDP state officer even told our correspondent that even though there is a lot of tension in the party as the election year approaches that there is bound to be reconciliation at the end of the processes.

The Akpabio boys who are resisting the Attah team include, state commissioner for Information who is linked to the federal House of Representatives for Abak federal constituency, Etetim Anwatim who is interested in Ini state constituency, Emmanuel Ekpenyong who is also interested in the House of Assembly. Others are David Etuk of Nsit Ibom LGA, Tony Akan who is linked to Uyo Senate seat, Barr Imeh Okon who is linked to a second term for Ibiono in the state House of Assembly, Godwin Ekpo who is interested in the House of Assembly to rival Imeh Okon.

Akpabio’s men are also all over the federal constituencies and have vowed to do everything to get victory at the end of the day. More of Akpabio and Attah’s men are linked to the 2015 challenge and only time will tell how far they can go.