*Party Chairman Amadu Attai protest omission, blames UOU, ors
*Umana’s men dominate list
*Dora Ebong, Kufre Etuk, MacJoe angry over non inclusion
*Why Bishop Akpan was ignored
President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR must have appointed about
27 children of Akwa Ibom State to Federal Boards, Commissions and parastatals
but rather than those appointments generating love and affection in the Land of
Promise, the reverse has been the case as most of the APC members in the state
are at daggers drawn with some leaders accusing them of promoting and executing
personal and parochial interests above national and collective interests.
Some members of the Party who feel short-changed in the new
arrangement contested the nomination of those whom they described as old, tired
and expired and wondered what those ones have to offer to the nation and Buhari’s
administration.
They also sought to know the basis behind the nomination of
certain persons by the Presidency. Some of them who confided in our
newsroom maintained that some people like Kufre Etuk, Amadu Attai, Michael
James, Dora Ebong and few others all deserved to have been given such
appointments but where it did not come, it means the change promised by the
Party was fake. They also queried why, the junior Ikoiwak was.
One of them said, “look at the appointments my brother, it is
rigged, it is skewed, it is crooked, it is barbaric. Where is the
position of the youths, what of the women? Da, the matter is
critical and it is beyond our understanding. The list is highly
dominated by Umana’s men. And we are forced to ask; is it only
Umana’s men that make APC? These things make us worried my
brother. It is highly confusing and annoying that a party we worked
for and believed squarely on would look the other way while old and expired men
take over the positions available in the Presidency”.
Our paper learnt also that the APC Chairman in Akwa Ibom, Mr.
Amadu Attai is equally unexcited about the list of nominees from Akwa
Ibom. Our reporter understands that the power blocs within the APC
in Akwa Ibom had promised Attai an appointment at the federal level either as a
Minister or board member but that the failure of the party to make real the
promises had seriously rattled Attai as THE INK was equally informed that the
Party Chairman was assured that he has made the list up to the third week of
December.
Sources who know said when the list was made public with Attai’s
name conspicuously missing. The APC boss in Akwa Ibom had to make
frantic phone calls to Obong Umana Umana and Ita Enang.
Both men are said to have ignored Amadu Attai. It was
gathered that when pressures mounted seriously on the APC leaders coupled with
some uncomplimentary remarks said to have been made by Attai, the drivers of
the Party had to direct the Publicity Secretary of the Party, Barr. Edet Bassey
to issue a statement appreciating Buhari for the appointments and also
congratulating the beneficiaries of the appointments.
APC top shots in the state informed that the press release from
Edet Bassey did not have the backing of the state chairman as he (Amadu Attai)
was still in shock and very unpleasant with the run of things.
Others in the Party who volunteered information mentioned that
ever since these appointments were made, that the political life in the APC had
not been the same as stakeholders now view each other with suspicion while top
leaders of the party are seen as traitors, self centred persons and those who
believe in the use and dumped syndrome.
Why Bishop Samuel Akpan was not considered
A strong member of Amadu Attai led State Working Committee of
the All Progressive Congress has opened up to THE INK newspaper on why the name
of AKPF strongman Bishop Samuel Akpan was missing in the list of the just
nominated persons by President Muhammadu Buhari into federal offices.
The Organizing Secretary of the State APC said that Bishop
Samuel Akpan who joined the APC recently has been making very deep penetrations
into the hierarchy of the Party at all levels and this has accordingly
positioned the former Akwa Ibom political adviser in a good stead to clinch the
governorship ticket of the party when the APC would have gone into the
Governorship nomination.
Investigations by our reporter also revealed that some leaders
in the APC feared that given the kind of influence and goodwill possessed by
Bishop Akpan, the reverend gentleman with his wealth of political experience
will bulldoze his way to the top echelon of national politics and may likely
get the nod of Tinubu to fly the ticket of the APC in the coming guber election
especially as the party intends to sponsor a candidate from Eket Senatorial
District.
This reality struck leaders of the Party in the state like a
thunder bolt forcing them to do all things they did including heavy financial
induction to stop the recognition of Bishop Akpan for
appointment. It was also revealed to our reporter that some leaders
of the APC in Akwa Ibom State had gone far to label the fast rising politician
as being on espionage in the APC.
Our reporter also understands that some top echelon of the APC
are of the opinion that given the closeness between Bishop Akpan and Godswill
Akpabio, that a support for the Bishop Akpan will translate to a consolidation
of ex-Governor Akpabio’s grip on power.
But the media office of Bishop Sam Akpan clarified the mission
of their boss to the APC.
Bishop Akpan’s media unit however acknowledged that there have
been, there was and there is an ongoing gang-up against his boss but maintained
that such conspiracy cannot stop them from taking over the Hilltop mansion in
2019. “Yes, the Bishop, our boss was not appointed because of
certain unfounded stories cooked up against him. But be rest assured
that there’s no blinking of an eye as we pursue the mandate of serving Akwa
Ibom State by 2019", Bishop Akpan’s men posited.
Udoedehe may turn down appointment
Fresh information received from the camp of Senator John James
Akpanudoedehe reveals that the ex-governorship candidate of the Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN) may reject his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Udoedehe’s camp feels that as a one-time Senator of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria that it is not very correct that the Uyo born political
maverick be made a member of a board.
THE INK understands that while the ex-Governorship candidate is
still contemplating whether or not to take up the presidential nomination, his
fans and supporters are equally divided on the appointment. While
some say he should proceed with the acceptance of the appointment, others view
it as not befitting a man of Senator Udoedehe standing and status.
As at late last week, supporters of Udoedehe who spoke with our
reporters in Uyo hinted that there have been no official mention of the mater
by the Distinguished Senator, adding also that the Senator is in high spirit
celebrating the Yuletide with his people and that at the appropriate time, he
was going to make his position clearly known and understood.
On whether the Senator was going to speak on the appointment and
anytime soon, our source said, that can only be known by the media unit of
Senator John Udoedehe. Our top source maintained further by
admitting that Senator Udoedehe is under pressure on the decision he is
contemplating as some top men in the APC have been calling him to discuss on
the matter.
As at the time of going to press, official information from the
strongman of Uyo politics was still being awaited. Meanwhile,
Udoedehe’s wife, Justina who was also nominated will accept her own
appointment. THE INK can confirm authoritatively.
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