Emem Akpabio tackles Udom Emmanuel over money, campaign structure.

 

The godfather of the Akpabio political dynasty has fallen apart with the Secretary to State Government, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel over fund, campaign structure and other sundry issues. An insider informed our reporter during the weekend in Uyo that Udom Emmanuel has suddenly gotten some nerves and is challenging the powers that be even as the SSG is said to have complained bitterly that the expenses incurred on his behalf by Sir Emem Akpabio are rather too much and may crumble the state economy if such expenses are sustained till when the elections are conducted by 2015.

Our source said since meetings for Udom Emmanuel’s ambition has always been hosted in Sir Emem Akpabio’s house, at the end of every of such meetings, a file is always given to Udom Emmanuel’s Personal Assistant, our source said, the file is always a breakdown of all the expenses incurred to host such meetings. This is said to have continued until the SSG one day called for the file and accordingly was given the file by his aide. Udom Emmanuel is said to have been shocked beyond words when he saw the amount of expenditure that is always incurred and documented in the file.

To this end, another source who attends the project Udom Emmanuel 2015 agenda informed our reporter that during one of such meetings, the SSG had demanded for the complete breakdown of the money said to have always been spent on his behalf and for him. Those who attended the said meeting are said to have been shocked. The SSG is then said to have informed that if they go on with such expenditure, then the state economy will be run dry and there would be no more money for him to run the state when he eventually takes over as Governor by 2015.

Udom Emmanuel is said to have told the Governor that if indeed the Governor wants him to continue in his ongoing projects and ensure that he creates a legacy for the state, then he should ensure that such expenses are curtailed as they are not healthy to the state economy and is capable of running out the funds in the state treasury and they will have questions to answer from the people of Akwa Ibom State.

With this, Udom Emmanuel is said to have informed Sir Emem Akpabio and others whom he is suspecting to be the brain behind the rascality in cash spending that he wants to take his position and allow his childhood friend and confidant Ephraim Inyang to direct proceedings in his favour and that he expects every other person to queue behind Ephraim Inyang who is a custom official and the man coordinating the umbrella group for his Governorship ambition.
Udom Emmanuel is said to have informed that he will be very comfortable working with Mr. Ephraim Inyang whom he can trust. 

Mr. Inyang it was reliably gathered is the brain behind Transformation Initiative for the empowerment of Ibom People and the SSG wants all political groups including Sir Emem Akpabio to be answerable to the group. But the SSG’s position was received by the political class working for him as initial signs of betrayal and a clear indication that if he assumes power, he will not carry the Akpabios along. 

The political class said to be led by Sir Emem Akpabio is said to have reported the matter to the State Governor. But our source said, characteristically of Akpabio, he is yet to say something concerning that. The Sir Emem Akpabio team are said to have begun wider consultations with a plot to replace Udom and pick a man whom they feel will be loyal to the Akpabio structure. The group are said to have also formed a parallel body which they intend to use to rival the Udom group.

When our reporter sought the opinion of the SSG on this matter, one of his aides confirmed the incidence were so much money is always spent to host meetings, the aide stressed that the SSG is not ready to run a state that is already bankrupt when he steps into power and that is why he had to ask that he be allowed to take charge of his campaigns.

The SSG’s aide added also that the Local Government coordinators that were appointed to campaign for the SSG in their respective Local Areas are still loyal to whom they were loyal to. He said that is the security report they gathered and as a result of that Mr. Udom Emmanuel seeking to run his campaign through Ephraim Inyang is not asking too much. He appealed to Sir Emem Akpabio, the godfather to please see reasons as to why he should allow Udom take charge of what belongs to him except they brought Udom from his position in Zenith Bank to be disgraced.

Efforts to speak with Sir Emem Akpabio failed as his known phone number was not connecting and was not responding as well. When our reporter rang the number of one of the aides of Sir Emem Akpabio, he said, ‘Da owo, oga is not ready to speak on that matter, if Udom feels Ephraim Inyang, Zenith Bank or whoever can make him Governor, let him go ahead, my brother please leave me alone, Udom wants to make nonsense of politics’

Another politician, a former council chairman who has been following trends in the Udom campaign hinted that there is problem because of the posturing of Sir Emem and others but the leaders are trying to work out modalities to solving the problems.

Meanwhile, a source from the Government House Information Unit informed our reporter that the Governor is aware of the cracks and as soon as possible, will do something about it to reach a truce. Our source refused further comment and said, “Da Nsibiet ayeminsin ke iko?” meaning if our reporter wants to put him into trouble?