A’ Ibom Guber 2023: Where Akan Udofia got it wrong

By Inyene Vincent Eddie

The All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Mr. Akanimo ‘prosperity’ Udofia, would have been the preferred contestant for the forthcoming gubernatorial race in Akwa Ibom State had he listened to reason and distance himself from Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio.

Udofia, an Ibibio son from Nsit Ibom, a local government within Uyo senatorial district, had nearly everything going for his governorship ambition. He was favoured by power rotation principle, has resources to bankroll his ambition and fitted the desire of Akwa Ibom people for fresh contestant. Unfortunately, his entanglement with the former governor, has ruined his chances of winning the 2023 governorship race in Akwa Ibom State.

Right from day one, Udofia should have asked questions before going forward with the pact he signed with Senator Akpabio. Would the Ibibios – the majority tribe allow Godswill Akpabio, from the minority Annang tribe, to single handedly choose a governor again, given his bid to subjugate the Ibibios throughout his tenure in office? After the ordeal Ibibios suffered from Akpabio’s eight year campaign to emasculate their political leadership and make them an ‘insignificant majority’, would he be allowed access to such power a second time, whether directly or by proxy?

Certainly, the Akan Udofia is not unaware that Akpabio took delight in setting up Ibibio brothers against each other just to make them seem irredeemably fractious. He plotted against those who helped him into power, betrayed and disgraced his friends in order shoot himself higher into national political limelight. There is a very long list of Ibibio leaders that fell under the barrage of Akpabio’s attack including Obong Victor Attah, who brought him from Lagos to serve in his cabinet; late Obong Ufot Ekaette, then Secretary to Federal Government and late Ambassador Sam Edem, who made case for his governorship primary before President Olusegun Obasanjo; Senator John James Udoedeghe, his campaign manager; Obong Umana Okon Umana, a very close ally, whom he referred to as ‘engine room’ of government; HE Ekpotu, Akpabio’s deputy governor was booted out of office unceremoniously, just for HE Nsima Ekere to enter and get his own share of disgrace; there are so many more.

Even if Akan Udofia was not aware of Akpabio’s dealings against Ibibios, he should certainly have heard about the outcome of the 2019 governorship election; how HE Nsima Ekere failed in his bid to become governor because he refused to heed sound judgement and ignored appeals from close allies not allow Akpabio mislead him. Well, in a like manner, Akan had exposed himself to be exploited and in his ignorance, allowed Akpabio build a web of treachery around him. Think of it, how could a governorship candidate allow his campaign flag off to be held away from the state capital? As an Ibibio, holding a governorship campaign flag off in Uyo would have given him huge leverage, but even if he didn’t want Uyo, why didn’t he flag off in Nsit Ibom, his hometown? Meanwhile, that sword Akpabio gave him in Essien Udim is very similar to the one given Nsima before his imminent failure.

Any reasonable person could observe that APC in 2018 was steadily growing into a powerful opposition in Akwa Ibom State and by this year’s governorship election could have given the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and run for their money. Sadly, they allowed Akpabio to slither in with his uncommon baggage of blackmail and subterfuge. From then, the party went into free fall.

At present, the party is too divided and unstable to win even a seat in the State legislature, talk less of winning the governorship. Akpabio has nothing to lose since his real intention is to play along and get a federal appointment. His so-called senatorial ambition is a complete ruse. The determined forces within Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district are out to stop his inordinate ambition. How then can he make Akan Udofia a governor?

Anyways, it’s rather too late to make amends for Akan Udofia. Hence, he will become yet another Ibibio son trapped, exploited and disgraced.

Inyeneobong Eddie writes from Odot.