Except the Nigerian Constitution is amended before April 2015, one thing is certain: all the governors who have served two terms in office will no longer be qualified to re-contest for such offices. This is because our Constitution says a person cannot occupy the office of a governor for more than two consecutive terms. One of the governors who will have to obey this constitutional provision in 2015 is Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State whom, as if to confirm the expiration of his stay in the Government House, his people have already asked to represent them in the Senate come 2015.
Akpabio took office as governor of the State first in 2007 and was re-elected for a second term in 2011. Akpabio’s journey to Akwa Ibom State Government House was a peculiar one. Those who have the benefit of history would recall that he was not one of those that could be considered top contenders for the top job in the oil-rich state even though by experience he appeared eminently qualified.
Before 2007, he was a commissioner during the two terms of his predecessor, Obong Victor Attah. But make no mistake, Akpabio was not known to be Attah’s anointed successor though many see his appointment into Attah’s cabinet as what brought him (Akpabio) into political limelight. Before joining Attah’s cabinet, Akpabio was a lawyer in private practice in Lagos. His appointment into Attah’s cabinet was his debut in secular political scene aside his involvement in student politics and activism in the University of Calabar where he obtained his law degree.
But whichever way one looks at it, the fact that Akpabio served during Attah’s two tenures is an eloquent testimony that he had something valuable on the table, for there were not more than two commissioners who enjoyed such rare privilege. Attah’s cabinet was Akpabio’s preparatory ground. As commissioner in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, a very strategic ministry, Akpabio familiarised himself with the political terrain and structures in the state and became a grassroot politician, little wonder that he remained one of the most relevant and popular amongst his colleagues.
During this time too, it became obvious that Akpabio was a man of wits and charisma. Of course, shortly before the end of Attah’s second term, Akpabio’s body language indicated that he was interested in his boss’ job but he did not appear to be so much of a force to reckon with. Apparently due to the level of political awareness at the time, the number of aspirants within his party alone was so much that Akpabio’s name would simply be drowned in a sea of names.
Secondly, the fact that Attah could not seek another term in office emboldened many political heavyweights who, before then, were not comfortable about challenging an incumbent. So, within the PDP alone, there were well over fifty aspirants for the office of the governor and at least a fifth of this number had clout good enough to unnerve Akpabio. In this category were very experienced, older and better connected politicians such as Chief Don Etiebet, Dr. Ime Umanah, Grp. Cpt. Sam Enwang just to mention a few.
Besides, at the time, there was the speculation that Gov. Attah preferred another aspirant Dr. Udoma Ekarika to succeed him. Ekarika, a medical doctor by profession, was another commissioner who served during Atta’s two tenures. He also became son-in-law to Attah during that period. As if to confirm the speculations concerning Attah’s preference of him, Ekarika served in two sensitive and strategic ministries, first the ministry of health and then the ministry of works which was and is still believed to be the juiciest ministry in the state.
There was also speculation that Ekarika’s campaign was funded by the Government House and one would not have any struggle leaning to this thinking because, again for those with the benefit of history, any of Ekarika’s campaign outings was a carnival of some sort. With all these forces that Akpabio had to contend with, it was mysterious how he emerged the PDP flag bearer in the state because in a state that was predominantly PDP, the PDP primaries could simply pass for the main election.
One could not but come to the conclusion that Akpabio was indeed a man favoured by God and loved by his people whose dogged loyalty and unreserved support delivered to him the keys to the Government House. Good enough, time has a very subtle way of banishing all such intrigues to the faint memories of history and so the journey to the Government House in 2007 may not be of much importance today. What is of more importance now is the race for the same office in 2015.
And for those who think it is not yet time for politicking, they will be shocked by how much work has been done already and the strategies, alignments and realignments going on in Akwa Ibom political circles. As usual, the race will not be free of intrigues. But there are a number of major factors that will determine who occupies Akwa Ibom State Government House come April, 2015. As is typical of a number of states in our country, Akwa Ibom is a multi-ethnic state with the three dominant tribes being Ibibio, Annang and Oron in that order of dominance.
Again, unfortunately though, in a society where ethnic considerations play a critical role in decision making, it would be foolhardy to play down on it in the political calculations that will determine who rules a state such as Akwa Ibom. Worthy of mention at this point is the fact that since inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the Ibibios and Annangs have occupied the Government House in the persons of Governors Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio respectively. Already, politicians from the Oron ethnic extraction have begun the agitation that the next Governor should come from the area.
Their argument is that since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, no politician from the area has served as Governor. As if to add a touch of seriousness to the agitation, a number of persons mostly from the region have either openly declared interest or been touted as possible successors to Akpabio. On the other hand, there is already the counter argument in some quarters that rotation of governorship in the state is not exactly along the ethnic lines but along the three senatorial districts which are not neatly delineated along ethnic lines.
If this argument is sustained, it means that the next governorship slot will not just fall on the laps of the Oron people as the Eket senatorial district, to which they belong, also has a number of local governments of the Ibibio extraction. Whichever way the argument goes, one thing is sure. This political permutation, which many may consider perfidious, will certainly be a veritable notion that will support and fuel the usual intrigues and manipulations when the time is ripe.
Another factor that will determine who becomes Akpabio’s successor is that AkwaIbomites would want a governor that will, in the least, match the achievements of the man who, in recent times, has been rated by many as best governor in Nigeria. While still savouring the rare achievements of the man whose vision for his people has given birth to an empowered populace and a private sector driven economy, acting as a catalyst to Nigeria’s Industrial revolution, Akwaibomites are watching to see who takes over the governance of the state from Gov. Godswill Akpabio. Adahada writes from Lagos.
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