Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, reputed for being profligate, lectures about governance and corruption
Barely five days after he made public his intention to run for the office of the governor in 2015, the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Umana Umana, has been reportedly given 48 hours to resign from office or be booted out.
Mr. Umana had last Thursday made public his desire to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2015.
The declaration followed weeks of speculations that he was under intense pressure to vacate office and withdraw from the race, reports that his associates dismissed as blatant lies and fabricated rumour.
His spokesman, Iboro Otongaran, had said the reports were baseless and unfounded, claiming that it followed a similar one that he was rejected and barred him from running for the office after he was presented to President Goodluck Jonathan as the state’s PDP gubernatorial candidate for 2015.
The intrigues heightened last week when reports said he was one of three nominees, whose names were submitted to the presidency for consideration and appointment as the next Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Although the latest report that he has been asked to resign is yet to be confirmed officially, PREMIUM TIMES’ visit to the Government House, Uyo, revealed there was palpable tension around the premises with an unusually high presence of armed security operatives at the main entrance to the SSG’s office.
The fierce-looking mobile policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), mounting security at the gate, were busy frisking every person and vehicle going in or out of the premises.
Our sources said a police team, led by one A. Akiola, a deputy superintendent of police, said to head the police security unit in the Government House, Uyo, sealed up Mr. Umana’s office around 10 a.m Monday, denying entry to even civil servants working in the complex, which is a stone throw from Governor Akpabio’s office.
Officials were evasive when asked about the whereabouts of the embattled SSG, whose decision to declare his interest in the governorship race has been described by Governor Akpabio’s loyalists and associates as an affront and the height of disloyalty to his boss.
When contacted, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, said he could not comment on the recent happenings as he was out of the state.
Mr. Umana, the SSG, was, until this incident, considered Mr. Akpabio’s Man Friday, and his anointed successor. Political pundits in the state now consider the latest development as an indication that the two men might have parted ways politically.
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