By Aluu Vincent

The next governorship election in Akwa Ibom State comes up 3 years from now. One would think that key players and those with vested interests will become vocal beginning from next year. That however is not the case as political drum beats are heard reverberating from all sections of Uyo Senatorial District, the zone most favoured to produce the next governor of the state based on zoning formula. There is palpable tension in the air already, alignment and realignment as proposed candidates are busy building structures, winning supporters across the various divides. While some are already at the front burner of the gubernatorial discourse, others are yet to come plain.

It is instructive to note that elections anywhere in the world is a big business and expensive to prosecute. Beginning from 1999, it has been an established tradition that the governorship seat is zoned based on senatorial district basis. It is further micro zoned based on federal constituency and local government basis. Arch. Obong Victor Attah, from Ibesikpo LGA of Uyo Federal Constituency of the Peoples Democratic Party, was elected and sworn in as Governor in May 29, 1999. Arch. Attah governed the state for 8 years and handed over to Senator Godswill Akpabio, from Essien Udim LGA of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Senator Akpabio trounced 51 other candidates to emerge the PDP candidate in 2007; won the election and governed the state from 2007 – 2015.

Udom Emmanuel whose tenure elapses on May 29, 2023, took over from Senator Godswill Akpabio in May 29, 2015, hails from Onna LGA in Eket Senatorial District. Now that his tenure gradually winds to an end, all eyes is now turned to Uyo Senatorial District to produce successor to Governor Udom Emmanuel. Who then is fit to take over from Udom Emmanuel? Truth is no one knows who will be the next governor. Nobody even knows whom the incumbent governor is supporting. Only time and God alone will tell who is the next governor of God’s own state.

Let it be known that many factors will determine the next governor. Granted that Uyo Senatorial district will produce the next governor. Other determining factors are experience and track record of service, incumbency support, grassroots and the peoples support, supreme court judgement and the God factor.

Statistics shows that all the zones have had one or more shot at the governorship of the state whether as military or civilian governor. Uyo Senatorial District has produced Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga during the Military era, Obong Akpan Isemin of the short-lived Military transition of 1992. The zone also produced Arch. Victor Attah who governed between 1999-2007. Eket Senatorial District produced the late Brigadier General U.J. Esuene from Eket in the 1960s; the late Dr. Clement Isong from Onna LGA who ruled from 1979-1983 and Udom Emmanuel the present occupier of Hilltop mansion. Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District had its own taste of the cake through the late Donald Etiebet from Oruk Anam who was governor in old Cross River state and Senator Dr. Godswill Akpabio from Essien Udim LGA.

Now that the pendulum has swung the way of Uyo Senatorial District once again, the question is which federal constituency or LGA will produce the governor. Is it Uyo Federal Constituency made up of Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan, and Mkpat Enin LGAs, Etinan Federal Constituency made up of Etinan, Nsit Ubium and Nsit Ibom LGAs or Itu Federal Constituency made up of Itu and Ibiono Ibom LGAs? Of these federal constituencies, Uyo has produced a governor from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA; Etinan has produced the late Akpan Isemin and Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga from Nsit Ibom. Only Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency is yet to produce a governor.

There is also the germane issue of Lagos Returnee and Home Grown Politicians. This has been a torn in the flesh of the political life of the state. Since democracy returned to Nigeria, Governors have been chosen from outside the state and Lagos to be precise. Arch Victor attah was drafted from Kaduna where he was enjoying his architecture profession. Senator Godswill Akpabio was flown from Lagos where he held sway as Director in one of the Telecoms Firms. Deacon Udom Emmanuel was headhunted from the financial boardroom of Zenith Bank Plc where he superintended as an Executive Director to become first as SSG and later Governor. There is rumour that another Lagos Returnee from the oil and gas sector and precisely Lekki is being nursed to take charge of the state from 2023. The home grown politicians are said not to find it funny anymore and are doing all in their powers to ensure that a home grown emerges. It remains to be seen how this will be possible but they are sure not leaving anything to chance.

From the data presented above, your guess is as good as mine as to which area in Uyo Senatorial District is best suited for the plum job. If micro zoning is to be considered, does it mean the race is between Etinan and Itu/Ibiono Federal constituency since Uyo Federal constituency has produced Governor Attah who ruled for 8 years? If the choice of governor will be based on the constituency yet to have a shot at the number seat in the state, will Itu/Ibiono federal constituency carry the day?

So far, some names have been mentioned as being favourably disposed to snatching the seat of the governor. The early callers are Mr. Udom Inoyo, Executive Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria from Nsit Ubium, Mr. Akan,Okon, veteran banker and Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport Development from Itu LGA, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, former Finance Commissioner and two term Senator from Ibiono LGA. We also have Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, former Speaker and Member House of Representatives from Nsit Ubium, Mr. Uokon Umana of the APC, former Secretary to government of Akwa Ibom State, 2015 governorship aspirant and MD/CEO of Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone from Nsit Ubium, and Senator Akpan John James Udoedeghe, the Uyo landlord, veteran politician and serial contender to the plum job, from Uyo LGA. It is believed that the number will increase once the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officially lifts ban on election activities. What then are the strength and weaknesses of those already mentioned as big masquerades in the governorship race?

Mr. Udom Inoyo

He hails from Nsit Ubium LGA and is being rumoured as the anointed of the incumbent. He like the present governor is regarded as a Lagos returnee. He is the Vice President of Mobil Producing Unlimited Nigeria. He rose through the ranks and file to become the number Mobil staff in Nigeria. He holds a degree in Political Science and an LLB Law. He has no political affiliation but for the last 12 years, he has been engaged in philanthropy through the Inoyo Toro Foundation, a platform he has been using to advance recognition of public secondary school teachers and students in Akwa Ibom State. Pundits says the odds favour him having been anointed by the system and has not corrupted by the inanities of the political system. Others says he is going to be a hard sell being a Lagos returnee who will favour only Lagos based Akwa Ibomites.

Mr. Akan Okon

He is a veteran banker, personal friend and class mate of the incumbent governor. He hails from Itu LGA and is the present Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Seaport Development. He has served the state as Finance Commissioner, Economic Development, Housing and Urban Renewal. He is a key player in the Udom Emmanuel government having supervised turnkey projects, supervised the birthing of Ibom Airlines and is presently working assiduously on the Ibom Deep Seaport project. Prior to his appointment, he was the founder and MD/CEO of Fantaxis investment limited, financial advisor after spending 23 years in Central Bank and commercial banking sector. He holds a degree in business administration and a Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance. He is a lover of youths, philanthropist and grass rooter. Book makers are of the view that He stands a chance of clinching the seat since his zone is yet to have a shot at the governorship seat.

Senator Bassey Albert Akpan

He is a two term Senator and Chairman Senate Committee on Upstream Petroleum Resources and hails from Ibiono Ibom LGA. He has served a Finance Commissioner of the State, former Vice Chairman South-South of FCMB. He is the Chairman Akwa Ibom Caucus in the National Assembly. He was regarded as the last man standing in the 2019 general election who stood with Udom Emmanuel against all odds to emerge victorious. To his advantage is the fact that he has age on his side; is a lover of youths having supported them to find their feet in life and become bread winners. At one point, he chaired the Interministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, a platform he used to unleash massive rural development in the state and empowered the youths. As Senator, he is said to have brought laurels for the nation and saved the nation billions of dollars given his patriotism. It is rumoured that the system does not favour him claiming he is too powerful yet his zone is yet to produce a governor.

Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke.

Many says he has his eyes on the governorship seat and may cause an upset if given the nod. He has age on his side and his youth-friendly disposition is said to count for him. He has unionism running in his blood having been SUG President and President Nigeria Youth Parliament. He has been two term member representing Nsit Ubium state Constituency and Speaker of the 6th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. He presently represents Etinan Federal Constituency and is Chairman House Committee on Judiciary in Nigeria’s House of Representatives. He is also National Chairman, University of Uyo Alumni Association. He holds a Bachelor degree in law and Master’s Degree in law from University of Calabar. He led the 6th Assembly to support Governor Udom Emmanuel to return for second term against all harassment and intimidation from the so called federal might. Under his leadership, the House gave nod to the economic plans of government and gave approval for the establishment of Ibom Air making Akwa Ibom the first state to float an airline.

The opposition Political Party in the state, the All Progressive Congress, APC, is not left out in the quest of who occupies Hilltop Mansion come 2023. The party has made efforts to claim the number one seat beginning from 2015 but has not been successful. Many say this is a tall dream given the fact that the PDP is a religion in the state having been in power since 1999. The galaxy of contenders under the banner of the APC are veterans and big political masquerades whose names ring bells in the political landscape of the state.

There is Senator Akpan John James Udoedgehe, the Uyo landlord; a veteran and serial contender to occupy hilltop mansion. He has been Supervisory Councilor, board member of Pamol Limited, Uyo Local Government Chairman, Senator, Director General of Akpabio’s Campaign organization and Minister of State for FCT during the Yardua era. He has a degree, Masters and PHD in Sociology and Anthropology.

We also have Mr. Okon Umana, a seasoned administrator cum politician. He has served the state as Director of Budget, Finance Commissioner, Secretary to government of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman. He was a major contender in the 2015 Gubernatorial race in the state on the platform of the APC. He is the MD/CEO of Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone; a position many see as compensation for losing out to the PDP in the 2015 election. He hails from Nsit Ubium.

Senator Ita Solomon Enang is said to be eyeing the number one seat of the state. He too is a veteran having spent a greater part of his life in politics. He has been a Councilor, House of Assembly Member. Enang spent 12 years representing Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives and 4 years as Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District. He has served as SSA to President Buhari on National Assembly matters (Senate) and presently serves as SSA to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.

The list will no doubt increase in the coming days. It must be reiterated that the factors adduced above will play critical role in who takes over from Governor Udom Emmanuel. The various contenders understand what I am talking about. Neglecting these factors will spell doom for those involved. While manipulating these factors to their favour, interested parties must not fail to respect the rules of the game and the God factor. It must be noted that while the people have a right to choose who governs them, God still rules in the affairs of men and gives the kingdom to the anointed.