One of the Abuja based Presidential aide and a contender for the 2015 governorship stool in the state Prof Richard King has been quoted to have said that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has directed that his ambition should be fruitful and will ensure he emerges the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State otherwise he, Prof King will stampede the position of Akwa Ibom State Governorship to an Oro person.
The University Don is said to have stated this penultimate week during one of his campaign tours in Eket, the Akwa Ibom state Oil capital. King is alleged to have informed that the decision to make him Governor of the state after Godswill Akpabio come 2015 is from the nation’s seat of Power and that there is nothing anybody can do about it.
King whose state of Origin has been under confusion as some people are of the opinion that he is from Delta State had maintained according to a source that he is ready to invoke his closeness to the President Goodluck Jonathan and sweep the stakes when the bell rings for the governorship election of Akwa Ibom State.
Our source said Prof King had said that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan wants a core Eket man in himself to succeed Akpabio or anybody from Oro nation. To this end King who has been laying claim to his indigeneship of Eket LGA boasts that he possesses the necessary requirement to succeed Akpabio because he has been assured by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Prof. king had alleged that the presidency has given him the go ahead to campaign and consult for the position of the Governorship of Akwa Ibom State and that His Excellency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has told Governor Akpabio and some anti Udom delegation that met him, Jonathan in Abuja two weeks ago that Security report favours the Oro and Ekid tribes of Eket Senatorial District. And as such, they should present an Oro or Ekid candidate and that if they, referring to Akwa Ibom Stakeholders fail to do so that he, Mr. President has an Eket candidate to present, apparently referring to himself (Prof King) as the Eket Candidate.
Prof. King is said to have further revealed that he is that candidate. He is said to have boasted that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is his friend and colleague. He opined that infact himself (Prof King) and the President Jonathan had co authored a book, “wetland Pertubation” which is currently used in centre for Wetland and waste management at the University of Uyo town campus beside Nyong Essien Library.
He stated that if the Oro nation should resolve and produce a formidable candidate, he wouldn’t run for Governorship because according to him, Oro and Ekid people have never struggled for anything in history and won’t start with him.
But some politicians who spoke with our reporter last weekend from the Akwa Ibom Government House informed that it is doubtful whether the President Goodluck Jonathan must have told Prof king what King told his supporters and opined that the seasoned Prof King is only dropping the President’s name in order for him to gain cheap political advantage as the election day draws closer. The Government House source maintained that King’s testimonies are inconsistent with recent mode at the Presidency towards the Akwa Ibom Hiltop race. Our source said if King is interested in becoming the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he should show sufficient reasons why the people of Akwa Ibom state should support him beyond his waterful postulations that he is the anointed from Abuja.
On the postulations of whether the seasoned Professor is a bonafide indigene of Akwa Ibom State, our source said, King does not appear to be conversant with the postings of the state. Our source added that a security report had some time ago indicted Prof King as not an Akwa Ibomite. He cited a case were King was to be made a minister and was rejected because of security reports that had nailed him. Our source who spoke on very strict condition of anonymity however wondered why King has refused to shut down his guber interest but going about telling whoever cares to listen that he is the President’s anointed.
A member of one of the Ibibio socio cultural organization have however warned the seasoned Professor against drawing the name of the Ibibios into his political movement. Our Ibibio strongman who hails from Uyo Senatorial District said Ibibios will not take it kindly when politicians decide to make statements that are capable of undermining the strength of the state’s largest ethnic bloc.
Prof King did not respond to a text message that was sent to his phone seeking clarifications on some of the issues that were raised against him.
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