2015 Guba Race: BASSEY ALBERT DARES AKPABIO

Mr.Bassey Albert Akpan, Finance Commissioner

Gov Akpabio

·       STARTS UNDERGROUND CAMPAIGN

·       REGROUPS CULT BOYS

·       UNOMA AKPABIO CONNECTION

The last has not been heard about the struggle to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State in 2015, even as the immediate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Obong Umana Okon Umana, earlier said to have been favoured by the Governor, was asked to step out of the contest.

More aspirants are mobilizing both men and resources for the race, though most of them, particularly those in government, are doing it discreetly.

The latest strong entrance into the 2015 Governorship race is Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, popularly known and addressed as Eklem, an Ibiono Ibom son from Uyo Senatorial District and also the serving State Commissioner for Finance, who has started a discreet campaign for the top office.

Sources close to him who does not want their names in print said: “He sees himself as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State. He is believed to be the only one that is currently enjoying Governor Akpabio’s confidence, hence his reason to have entered the race.”

The source said Mr. Akpan will use two planks to run the race. The first plank is the use of youths, mostly cult boys who are being recruited and regrouped along cult lines into one big umbrella body calledthe Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom Youths.

According to our source, the plan is to get all major cult boys and their leaders and group them into Local Government Chapters of the group and use them as foot soldiers for Mr. Bassey Albert’s ambition.

The second plank is to make himself an Ibibio Candidate, and make sure he is the only candidate from Uyo Senatorial District where the Ibibios will likely have a bloc vote if they agree on presenting him as candidate.

Thus, Mr. Bassey Albert, according to our source, has started mobilizing statutory delegates through the Supreme Council Campaign in the 14 core Ibibio Local Government Areas of the state.

Our source recalled that some of the Supreme Council Chapters have been inaugurated with known cult leaders as Heads. At the State level, a popular cult leader from ONNA who was denied the Chairmanship ticket of the Local Government Council during the last election, known as Indo will be the Head.

Chapters already inaugurated included Ikono with Mr. Daniel Udo alias Poison, an aide to the past Commissioner for Science and Technology, Engr. Iboro Ekanem, as Head. In Ini, Mr. Charles Udofia is Head; Ibesikpo Asutan has Mr. Mfon Victor Bassey alias Terron as Head; while Nsit Ibom has Mr. Abel Sunday alias Albelito as Head. Other inaugurations were stopped to allow the Commissioner and Leaders of the group to attend the Special National Convention of thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja. Though before the Abuja trip, he met with Chapter Secretaries of PDP at a location in Ikot Akpan Abia, not too far away from the Police Headquarters. More meetings with other groups have also taken place.

The source said all the “Boys” who were working with Obong Umana Okon Umana, like the State PDP Youth Leader and Personal Assistant tothe Governor on Youth Matters, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong alias Iraq, are currently with Mr. Bassey Albert. They are said to have been deceiving Obong Umana while their main person was Mr Bassey Albert. That shows why some of them have stopped going to see Obong Umana.The only youth Leader who is still seen occasionally around Obong Umana is Hon. Onofiok Luke, the Member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Obong Umana’s, constituency,

The political down fall of Obong Umana is, therefore, the political uplift of Mr. Bassey Albert, who had at several occasions denied looking for theoffice when confronted by Obong Umana in the past. On one occasion, he is said to have gone to Obong Umana’s place, knelt down and swore heaven and earth that he will not contest the position.

There is also a plan in the second place to inaugurate Eket, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo Senatorial District Chapters of the Council before the State Council will be inaugurated in the third phase. The Commissioner is also said to have gone spiritual, visiting some renowned men of God. One of those he had visited is a Prophet at Shelter Afrique House Estate, near Emroszy Hotel, Mbiabong, not too far away from Mr. Albert’s place of abode. The Prophet, known to dress in white shorts and shirts like the legendry Olumba Obu, runs an NGO.

Our sources said the Commissioner was accompanied to the man of God by a former lawmaker from Uruan who is eyeing the Uyo Senatorial District’s seat in 2015.

Mr. Bassey Albert is also said to be relying on the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, for his ambition. He owes his continued stay in the cabinet to the support the Governor’s Wife. The First Lady’s support, many believe, is because Mr. Bassey Albert’s wife is of the Igbo speaking background like the Governor’s Wife and it will gladden her to hand over office to her sister. Some sources even said both women are from Enugu State.

Prominent Ibibio people, however, see Mr. Bassey Albert as the same as Obong Umana. They believe they may have become too large and lack respect for elders and Ibibio traditional institutions.

“That is why he treats people with disdain. He believes as Obong Umana always does, that money is everything. And because he has money, he believes people should run over to support him,” a very reputable Ibibio elder told our reporter.

Some people, however, believe that Mr. Bassey Albert has done a lot to get the people’s support. “He has given inter-ministerial to most youths and getting their support will not be hard,” another source said.

Some people we spoke with said it was rather sad that the episode of violence and its accompanied vices that were long buried may rise again, if Mr. Albert is bent on using cult boys. They point to the havocs caused by the boys in the past in defense of their principals. “The blood of Mr Iniekong Udonwa’s mother will not forgive anybody who will bring back boys to cause mayhem during the coming elections.”