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Ekpenyong
leads the pack to succeed Attah
By
Habib Aruna
Assistant
Politics Editor,
Lagos
Political
contest could be very interesting and full of intrigues. It indeed
entails, as the current presidential campaign in the United States of
America has shown, a lot of dirty tricks being thrown at each other. Yet,
it is equally on record that pragmatic politicians are never caught
unawares when the whistle is finally blown.
The
above appears to be the case in what is currently playing out in the South
South state of Akwa-Ibom State where, even though the incumbent is riding
on his wave of popularity, it has not prevented politicians in the state
from preparing themselves for the race to succeed him. Indeed, it has
become a common dictum in the state that the shoes of Attah would be
difficult to fill by any of the visible contenders.
And
that is why many of them, it was reliably gathered, have been campaigning
secretly on the crest of the promise to continue the programmes very dear
to the heart of Governor Victor Attah. �You know the governor has
demonstrated a lot of qualities over the years and the people will not
take it lightly with anybody that wants to rubbish his legacies�, says one
of his aides recently in Lagos during a book launch about the governor�s
views on the controversial onshore/offshore dichotomy
law.
For
sure, given the stake that Attah has brought to office and his growing
stature in the country, the governorship race in 2007 would be hotly
contested by aspirants across the parties, most of whom have been putting
structures in place for the battle ahead.
One
of the favourites is without doubt the current deputy to the governor, Dr.
Chris Ekpenyong. Though he has not come out to indicate his interest on
the plum job, all things points to the fact that he is the man to beat as
the count down begins. There are however others too, some of who have the
resources to give the Obot Akara-born politician a
fight.
The
signs of what to expect in the race took place recently at the Calabar
Airport, when Ekpenyong who has just clocked 50 years came back from his
vacation in the United States. Supporters and admirers gathered at the
airport to give him a grand reception. The import of that and the implicit
political statement that came out of it was not lost on observers who saw
it as a demonstration of the grassroots support by the deputy governor and
which would come in handy when the governorship race begins.
The
deputy governor, who is said to be accustomed to dogged fight to get what
he wants, is also not unmindful of the goodwill he has been able to garner
over the years in his service to the state. And this, according to
sources, is available both within the state and even far away
Abuja.
Ekpenyong
has indeed come a long way in his journey to political relevance before he
was picked by Attah to join the ticket. Being an intellectual and a
businessman, he was said to have pitched tent with Chief Don Etiebet, a
patriarch of some sorts in Akwa-Ibom State politics. He left the National
Center Party (NCP) with Etiebet to join the United Nigeria Congress Party
(UNCP). It was here that he later became prominent when as one of the
three leading senatorial aspirant, he swung the victory in favour of Dr.
Ime Umanah even when he was Etiebet�s political son.
This
did not deter him from following Etiebet to the People�s Democratic Party
(PDP) in 1999 and also contesting against Umanah. And it was apparently
because of his grassroots support and the benefit this would
have
on the campaign that influenced his choice by Attah. He did not disappoint
the governor because he delivered his zone in the last two general
elections.
Yet,
there are other candidates waiting by the wings and they cut across the
three main ethnic groups; Ibibio, Annang and Oron. One of them is the
current Commissioner for Works in the state, Udoma Bob Ekarika, who is
believed to have a lot of clout within the party and enough resources to
prosecute a governorship campaign. It is not however clear how far this
would take him in a race that will be decided by so many
factors.
Another
possible candidate is Goodwill Akpabio, Commissioner for Local Government
and Chieftaincy Affairs. A lawyer, Akpabio is said to have a lot of
grassroots support from his rapport with people at the local government
areas. Apart from reaping from this political capital, the amiable and
suave politician is also counting on his being an Annang man, a zone that
people are picking interest in as the race draws nearer. Analysts are not
ruling out an eventual duel between Akpabio and the deputy
governor.
Still,
there are intense speculations that Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, son of
respected elder statesman and late legal icon, Sir Udo Udoma, might be
interested in the race. Currently, the Chief Whip in the Senate, Udoma is
well connected and has enough resources to consummate a governorship
project. But given the agitation for zoning, his emergence in the race is
likely to raise a lot of dust within the party and might affect its
electoral chances in the long run.
Beyond
this, it is still premature to write off the likes of Umanah and Indogesit
Nkanga, who fought Attah in the 2003 general elections from the race
despite their apparent lack of an organised structures and party
machineries.
But
all these are likely to depend on the zoning arrangement, which from all
indications would tilt to the Annang zone. The Ibibio, who are in
majority, has dominated the scene for many years even during the Cross
River days. Brigadier General Udoaka Esuene of the old Southeastern State
and Dr. Clement Isong. Chief Donald Etiebet, elder brother of the
embattled All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) National Chairman was the only
Annang governor and he ruled for only three months. Nkanga and Obong Akpan
Isemen are also Ibibios.
�Don�t
forget that for now zoning has become an integral element of the politics
of Nigerian politics and we are going to hold on firmly to it to get what
rightly belongs to us�, said one of Ekpenyong�s supporters, who also
disclosed that all machineries are in motion to get what, according to
him, rightly belongs to them.
But
supporters of the deputy governor are banking on his long experience in
power and the loyalty he has given his boss in the past five years as a
veritable asset in a race that is likely to be closely fought. Indeed,
before the 2003 elections, Attah refused to bow to mounting pressure from
a section of the party to drop his deputy.
If
the latter was dropped, his supporters say, he would have declared for the
governorship race and that would have caused confusion in the governor�s
camp.
Even
then, Daily
Independent
gathered that Attah�s decision to retain his deputy was that of the
presidency and prominent members of the PDP national leadership. Yet,
another factor, which might work in favour of Ekpenyong is that �of all
aspirants, he is the most loyal, most experienced and will carry out
Attah�s programmes.
He
learnt his lessons from early friction with Attah caused by the Abuja
group who were bent on removing Attah�, says Martins Udo, a Lagos-based
lawyer.
He
added that Ekpenyong had been in the same boat with the governor in his
fight for what rightly belongs to the Niger delta
region.
So, as Ekpenyong savours
his 50th birthday, he can reminiscence about his political voyage, while
preparing for the battle of his political life. It will surely be
interesting.
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