Why is Umana Okon Umana So Desperate to Succeed Godswill Akpabio? Umana Okon Umana is a liar, who goes around telling his so-called supporters that he has been given the mandate to contest for governorship under the platform of APC. It did not matter to Umana that the APC Primary, in which it was recorded on video, showed how Umana and his supporters made a sham of the democratic process. What Umana also failed to tell his supporters is that the APC Executives members have been shown the video, which explains why they have refused to recognize Umana as the candidate of their party, despite all the claims he made that he won the Primary. Part of the reasons Umana is walking around and thumbing his chest is his penchant for spending money, which everyone is beginning to ask how a man, who has been a civil servant throughout his entire career, could amass such amount of money. I have been reliably informed that when Umana gives out currencies, those currencies would be wrapped with a bank-stamp which dates as far back as 2001. Reliable sources have also confirmed that as recently as just a few weeks ago, Umana succeeded in selling one of his houses in Abuja for a whooping sum of N1.5 billion. I don’t mean to construe that just because someone had been a civil servant all his life, as Umana had been, then the person must remain a pauper. However, when a civil servant begins to do personal financial transactions in billions of naira, then it begs for scrutiny. Umana Okon Umana should be scrutinized for his source or sources of wealth. Meanwhile, as if to rub Umana’s wealth on the faces of people, Obonganwan Rita Akpan, who is a strong supporter of Umana Okon Umana is going around telling those who care to listen to her that Umana was able to bribe APC officials with N4 billion. If such a story was credited to someone else, I might have had some reservations believing it. But to come from a highly placed indigene of the State, who was once the Secretary to the State Government, it is hard for me not to believe what I have heard. And the desperate behaviors of Umana to succeed Akpabio have added to my convictions that Obonganwan Rita Akpan is probably telling the truth. Again I ask: where did Umana Okon Umana get such amount of money? Can Umana Okon Umana Succeed Akpabio? I have said it before and let me repeat it here: as far as Akpabio is the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umana Okon Umana will never succeed him as the governor. Rather than let Umana succeed him, Akpabio is willing to let Senator Udoedehe emerge as his successor. Here is one clear sign: 1.Akpabio has succeeded in destroying Umana’s political structures in the State by removing from and replacing in government those that Akpabio considered as the sympathizers of Umana Okon Umana and many of them, out of frustrations, have ended up in APC and Accord parties. So far, the only lucky one, who was able to sail through the process, is Onofiok Luke, and that happened only after he (Onofiok Luke) had issued a public apology to Mrs. Unoma Akpabio. 2.If Godswill Akpabio is unwilling to work with and has succeeded in destroying the supporters of Umana Okon Umana, it is therefore very clear that Akpabio will rather die than allow Umana Okon Umana to succeed him. Those who are quick to discard this truth should never underestimate the power of an incumbent. So far, Akpabio is not saying anything about Umana. When Umana was kicked out of office, Akpabio did not say anything, anyway, until after. Security Clearance Those who have been able to check have confirmed that the security wrap on Umana Okon Umana is not pretty at all. Others have also speculated that despite all the speculated rumors of Umana’s spending to obtain favor from APC, the officials of APC are reluctant to touch Umana because of security reports, which is at their disposal. So far, among other concerns, there are questions how Umana, a civil servant, got the funds to build his house in Uyo and the one he had just sold in Abuja. And there are other deals, that sooner or later, unless he comes up with better explanations, Umana may end up in the galore of both the SSS and the EFCC. Let’s not forget that PDP often finds it difficult to leave alone a betrayer that appears invincible; when the right time comes, there are tendencies that they will go after Umana---the first step was to remove his security details. Those who seem to support Umana Okon Umana have argued that he is secure from the hands of the SSS because Ita Ekpenyong (Director of SSS) is his close friend. But what people seem to forget is that while Mr. Ita Ekpenyong may want to protect his friend, he (Ita Ekpenyong) has a boss with whom he must carry out orders, often referred to as ”order from above.” In addition, Umana himself is not making matters easier for him. According to available reports, at his recent return to Akwa Ibom State from a trip he made to Abuja or somewhere, Umana told the press that as a candidate (even though he is not) he is going to clean Akwa Ibom State of the impunities of Godswill Akpabio. One wonders how Umana Okon Umana could muster his energy to say something like that while Akpabio has been blaming Umana for all the impunities that happened in his administration. But then, Umana has never contested for any political office, which could have equipped him to know that there are certain words an aspirant cannot say about his opponent, especially if the opponent was a one-time boss. This is a clear indication that the battle between Umana and Akpabio is yet to begin! Implications If Umana Okon Umana is APC Candidate So far, no one knows what APC will decide regarding the APC governorship Primary Election in Akwa Ibom State. However, the officials (of APC) have been made to understand that if they support the emergence of Umana as a candidate, the APC will be dead in Akwa Ibom State. The party may not be able to field-in a candidate on the Election Day in February, 2015. The above assumption is on the premise that PDP may instigate the arrest of Umana Okon Umana and have him charged with financial crimes and other improprieties. If such arrest happens during the last few days to the election, during which the party cannot submit another candidate, the APC will lose, which will translate to a loss by the people of Akwa Ibom State, especially for those who are opposed to more of PDP governance in State. Does Umana has supporters in the State or is it all about his ill-gotten naira? This question will be answered in the next article. Written by Ikpafak Thompson Essien The Voice of the Poor Masses Defender of the Oppressed Social Critic A native of Ibibio nation of Ubium Republic extraction, now living in the safe and beautiful city of Portland, Oregon, where no AKPF, ADUMA, ADV, and Akwa Ibom State politicians can reach.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:37:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015