The gruesome murder of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Albert Ukpanah last Wednesday in Abak is not unconnected with the ambition of some politicians in his federal and state constituencies to either get a second term or get fresh terms, a source from the federal constituency confided in THE INK authoritatively.
Said to have taken a principled position on zoning, Ukpanah who has served for nine years as state officer in the Peoples Democratic Party representing Ukanafun was seen as an impediment to the inordinate ambition of some persons in Oruk Anam/Ukanafun federal constituency.
The paper gathered that some persons including second term seekers had at various times approached the deceased for support which he is said to have politely refused. A source said that it was at this point that political camps became jittery in view of his being a statutory delegate with large followership.
Hence, the plot to eliminate the former Vice Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area who is said to have been noted for his bluntness to issues.
A political associate of late Ukpanah that refused his name on print said sometime in late December 2013, the late PDPD chieftain had attended a meeting at the Hiltop Mansion as part of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s effort to reconcile with aggrieved former state officers of the party. The source also said that Ukpanah used the occasion to address the state governor who had forgotten him even when he had coordinated his group in Ukanafun in 2006. Governor Akpabio is said to have expressed his preference for the secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to succeed him in 2015. Ukpanah is said to have told the Governor that he is yet to make up his mind on Udom Emmanuel but assured that he is going to support an aspirant from Eket Senatorial District were Udom hails.
On that fateful Wednesday at about past 8pm the deceased is said to have returned from a meeting. This was after attending the Ikono/Ini town hall meeting/constituency briefing. A source said that he may have met the visitors who turned out to be his assassins.
The visitors suspected to have been an important visitor is said to have called him before coming. Engr. Ukpanah is said to have asked his United Kingdom trained son, Odudu to bring out three plastic chairs as he was expecting some visitors. The young man is said to have obliged and went into the sitting room to watch a UEFA Champions League football match which commenced at 8.45pm on that Wednesday. Said to have glued to the match, the young man never saw the two assassins who had been entertained by his father. A source said that it was when he came out later to see why the father delayed so long that he saw him in a pool of blood. Another source said that the ‘visitors’ had refused bringing in their car into the main compound, preferring to park outside the gate on the grounds that the driver was incompetent. A PDP Chieftain who interacted with our reporter in Abak last sunday wondered how the killing was successfully executed without any gunshot or resistance as the son and neighbours could not hear any struggle.
Speaking on the political game plan of some of the politicians in the area including second term seekers in Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, a PDP stalwart said more heads may roll as desperation has led to the use of ‘elimination method’ to achieve their ambition. A source said that Prince Umakiso Victor Umoh escaped death by the skin of his teeth shortly after declaring his federal House of Representatives aspiration in January. This is said to have caused the young man to be consulting politicians in hushed tones. The source also disclosed that the elimination arrangement is the handiwork of some aspirants who wouldn’t want any stumbling block to achieve what they want, zoning or no zoning.
A commissioner from the Area is said to be on the hitlist. On Friday 7th March, 2014 the late PDP chieftain is said to have hosted a meeting at his 40 Mkpokporo residence in Abak. A source that attended the meeting said it was convened by the Chairman of Ukanafun LGA who is a state Assembly aspirant that enjoyed the support of Ukpanah. This is said to have been a nightmare to other camps.
The late Ukpanah is a father of five children who had just turned 69. Trained in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and Germany as electrical engineer, Ukpanah had worked with Nigerian Railway Corporation and Champion Breweries among others before resigning into private business, and later politics.
His gruesome murder had eclipsed a leading light in Ukpanah royal family in Nsekhe in Ukanafun LGA who was an illuminating influence on many who towed the path of honesty. Many have said that with the killing of Ukpanah, a more dangerous dimension has been introduced into the state politics in 2015.
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