My running mate will come from Oro, says Umana Umana

The APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Umana Okon Umana has confirmed that his running mate will come from Oro nation. Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Uyo, Umana says his decision to choose his running mate from Oro is to compensate them for their long years of marginalisation and prepare an Oro person to succeed him as governor. He noted that he is consulting widely among key stakeholders to ensure that he picks the right person. 

On plans by Gov. Akpabio to extend his tenure to third term through the imposition of Udom Emmanuel,  Umana stated that it was time Governor Akpabio rendered account of his stewardship to the people of Akwa Ibom state.

The 2015 governorship hopeful noted that he was delighted to see that the people of the state were ready for change which he said has come to the state, as exemplified in the mass exodus of political stakeholders from the ruling party to the All Progressives Congress, the APC. Umana who maintained that it was time for the people to realise that the state was not the property of one man or family stated, “ It is time to bring change to the state, change on nepotism, change to mismanagement of our wealth. We have the party of Akpabio’s family which is the PDD; we are tired of Akpabio’s Party. APC is the party of the people. We must reject Akpabio’s party.’

 Stressing on the need for accountability and transparency in public office, the APC governorship candidate said: ‘No matter how strong a man is, he cannot appoint a governor for over five million people; we must reposition this state. It is time to stop a tendency where our money is spent outside of the state to our detriment, and our people are suffering. He must render account of how he managed the wealth and affair of the state anytime it is needed. No one man can impose his way on the over five million people of the state. The will of the people must surely prevail.”  

Speaking on how he has fared in APC, Mr Umana offered insight to the fact that everything in the party has been moving smoothly towards salvaging the state, explaining that his emergence as the gubernatorial candidate of the party was the will of God to the state. He stressed that he considers the outcome of the gubernatorial party primaries as ‘ no victor, no vanquished’;  rather he sees his emergence as a task to unite the state. Umana who commended the delegates and aspirants for finding him fit to fly the flag of the party, urged them to unite forces to ensure the party remains united and emerge victorious at the 2015 polls. 

The former SSG congratulated Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on his emergence as the Presidential Candidate of the APC, noting that he was pleased to see that internal democracy was demonstrated in the party.  

He added: “I commend Sen. Udoedehe, Group Captain Sam Enwang, Rt Hon Emmanuel Ekpenyong for their gestures; the process of integration has been very smooth. “When we launch our campaign committee and our manifesto, Akwa Ibom people will see the difference between APC, the people’s party and PDP, Akpabio’s party which is the best.” 

Before the press conference, Umana was received at his campaign office in Ewet Housing Estate by a large crowd of supporters. One of the speakers at the event was a former commissioner for works and Health , Dr Udoma Bob Ekarika who noted that the irregularities experienced in PDP had made him bid farewell to the party long ago.