… As Loyalist Derail
… He is a Joker and an ingrate – Itu PDP Stakeholder
… Let Him Wait Till 2023 – Obong Godwin Ekpo
The alleged ambition of Governor Udom Emanuel’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon, to become Governor and run the ‘Hilltop Mansion’ in 2019 suffered a setback as his loyalist and prominent stakeholders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency shunned a secret meeting initiated at his instance during his 51st birthday bash in Uyo.
Sources in the Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency authoritatively told Ibom Telegraph that the meeting was intended to be a ground where the Commissioner will, for the third time, officially announce his 2019 ambition to his kit and kin and also empowered coordinators codedly.
But, it was gathered that some prominent and key stakeholders tactically avoided the meeting with Commissioner Okon.
It was learnt that some factions of the Federal Constituency alleged to be loyal to Senator Bassey Albert including a former Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council were aggrieved over the role played by the Finance Commissioner in the emergence of Mr. Udom Emmanuel as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
The former Council boss, himself a loyalist and Coordinator of the Commissioner, who was among those that lobbied for the State House of Assembly slot is said to be pushing for the second term ambition of the incumbent Governor against that of Okon.
However, a handful of assumed supporters, including members of Akan Okon Humanitarian Foundation (AKOHF), rallied around him, moving with him to the motherless home and other choice places.
A source said: “Most of the people present at the event were beneficiaries of his deep pocket and aides of Governor Udom Emmanuel. Many stakeholers that were supposed to move round with him in fanfare decided to shun the event for fear of being seen as going against Udom’s second term bid. Those alleged to be oppose to Akan Okon’s 2019 ambition were the ones that deliberately boycotted the his birthday bash and even those that went did not stay to attend the ‘meeting.’”
The Finance Commissioner had earlier met with Ward and Chapter executives from Uyo Senatorial District where he was said to have carpeted the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Bassey Albert, for being his likely impediments in the 2019 race.
Ibom Telegraph later learnt that this was one the reasons for the absence of some of the stakeholders, particularly those in total allegiance to Senator Akpabio and Senator Albert.
However, one of the stakeholders and chieftain of the PDP denied that they deliberately boycotted the meeting, explaining that they had to sandwich between the Independence Day celebration and some other government scheduled events that day.
“It is not true that stakeholders from Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency shunned the meeting with the Finance Commissioner. Most of us had official role to play at the Independence Day celebration in our various local government areas. We also had other state government scheduled event to attend to, not that we were deliberately absent at his birthday party and the political meeting that followed,” he said.
To confirm the imbroglio, former Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council, Obong Godwin Ekpo, in an interview said “I don’t think it has anything to do with conflict of political interest between Akan Okon and Bassey Albert. For now, there is no problem between Obong Bassey Albert and Akan Okon. He is doing his job perfectly in Akwa Ibom as Commissioner and Obong Bassey Albert is in Abuja performing his function as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is true Akan Okon is a very ambitious man. He is loyal to the present government. If at all he wants to contest as Governor, it should be in 2023 not in 2019 because Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel will go for a second term. Others did, so he will do his eight years tenure.”
“I will advise that nobody should buy form to contest for the 2019 Governorship. There is no vacancy in 2019. This is my humble advice,” Obong Ekpo stressed.
“Udom is the only Governor that has recognized the former elected Local Government Council Chairman in the history of Akwa Ibom State. People should keep their minds open. We (Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency) will not listen to anybody outside Udom in 2019. I will advise our brothers (referring to Okon and Albert) who are very buoyant to take their money and build industries for our people. They should not waste their money for 2019 Governorship election because there is no space,” he concluded.
AKAN OKON’S 2019 AMBITION SUFFERS SETBACK
