Amidst initial widespread rumour that the state commissioner for Special Duties, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem has been linked to the Deputy Governorship position of the state, very strong indications had emerged last week that the system may have changed their plans and have opted for either of the state commissioner for Environment, Mr. Enobong Uwah or the Council Chairman for Uruan Local Government Area, Mr. Tony Akan. Another name that has been mentioned with relationship to the Deputy Governorship slot is Mr. Valentine Attah. While of all the names mentioned, Enoidem hails from Etim Ekpo and Akan from Uruan, the other two are from Uyo Local Government Area.
The sudden consideration of Uyo senatorial district to take the Deputy Governorship slot, inside sources told THE INK is to check what many has since described as likely political imbalance that may arise as a result of leaving Uyo empty without a seemingly strong position being zoned to it. Already tempers were high that if the PDP schemes out Uyo in her affairs ahead of the 2015 elections, it will be obvious that they may likely lose the guber race to any party that will field an Uyo senatorial district person as the flagbearer of their party and to underscore this point, the leading opposition party in the state the All Progressives Congress had since settled on Mr. Umana Okon Umana to fly the flag of the party. The party had also agreed in practice to ensure that it picks her running mate from Oro nation of Eket senatorial District.
Competent sources say, the realization of the impact of the joint ticket from APC had to provoke the PDP into the consciousness of looking into Uyo senatorial district to pick a running mate for the man who will eventually fly the PDP’s flag. THE INK also gathered that the PDP is jittery over who will eventually emerge the running mate to Mr. Umana and that the believe in the ruling party is that to contend Umana and possibly Bishop Akpan who is renounced for his political p[rowess, they had to go for a youthful person who will be widely acceptable in the scheme of the affairs of the state. The ruling party is said to believe also that with Tony Akan or Enobong Uwah deputizing, the PDP will have little or no problems convincing the youths that the party is youth friendly.
Political analysts argue that, if this permutation stands then the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Sir Udo Kerian Akpan will be in the best of positions to emerge the speaker of the next House of Assembly given his prowess and dexterity in the scheme of the present House of Assembly. Our reporter was informed that, such postings will attempt to assuage the feelings of the people of Abak five who had hitherto believed that with the current postings in the state, they would have lost what was most likely coming to them.
Asked what would be the fate of Barr Enoidem who have been a pillar in the Akpabio administration, our source maintained that there are a lot of goodies in the system and that Barr Enoidem will always occupy a pride of place in Government, since he had proven beyond all reasonable doubts that he is a trusted Akwa Ibomite and an Akpabio believer.
But choosing between Tony Akan, Enobong Uwah and Sir Val. Attah has since become the headache of the leadership of the party. Mr. Paul Ekpo, the state Party Chairman, it is believed is of the opinion that all hands must be on deck to ensure that no mistakes is done on the choice of the party’s running mate. Mr. Ekpo is said to contend that the choice of the Deputy Governor must be made so that all parties concerned do not feel cheated and schemed out.
Meanwhile, some youths who are still in the good books of Governor Akpabio are said to be agitating for a youthful Deputy Governor. Some of them led by one of the personal Assistant to the Governor is said to have mentioned that Sir Valentine Attah is a good material for the job but because of certain determinants, he should not be considered for the job. Our source who has been following up this matter said, the position of the influential PA did not receive the blessings of some Elders who had earlier contended that the PDP needs a Deputy Governor who is matured in heart and in deeds so that such could act as a stabilizing force in the Government. They base their argument on what they describe as a no one party system come 2015.
Meanwhile, those who are rooting for Enobong Uwah believes that since the Environment commissioner had since dumped his House of Reps ambition and worked hard to deliver Monday Eyo as the Uyo PDP flagbearer, he needs to be compensated. Another school of thoughts argue that Uwah’s support for Akpabio has fetched him more enemies in his Uyo LGA and beyond and that a lot of aggrieved persons are waiting to ambush the Environment Commissioner when he leaves office, therefore, it will only be fair for the system to reward the commissioner with the Deputy Governorship position. But those who back up the move to make Tony Akan are of the opinion that if there is any person that has shown loyalty to the Akpabio family in this present dispensation from Uyo senatorial District that it is the Uruan Council boss. They posit that Tony Akan had set his eyes on the senate but was asked by the Governor to step down and go for the House of Representatives, he obliged and was advised again to step down completely, he still obliged. To this end, supporters of Tony Akan told THE INK that the Uruan council boss deserves more than anyone else to be compensated with the Deputy Governorship slot. They said anything short of that will mean that the PDP has schemed Uruan out of the 2015 political blessings.
Efforts to get Tony Akan, Enobong Uwah and Val. Attah comment on the likelihood of their emergence did not yield fruits as the trio did not pick their calls as at press time. The state Party Chairman Obong Paul Ekpo who spoke through one of his aides said the choice of who will deputize for the PDP is an internal party business and will not be subjected to public scrutiny. He said, the party will announce her running mate at the appropriate time.
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