It’s not true Akpabio and Udom have started fighting — UMANAH

Mr. Aniekan Umanah, former Commissioner for Information in the Chief Godswill Akpabio’s administration commissioner-designate in the Udom Emmanuel’s administration in this interview berates the judiciary for relocating the Akwa-Ibom State Elections Petitions Tribunal from the state to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) saying it is totally uncalled for. He also reacts to the claims of rancour in the relationship between the former State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and his successor, Governor Udom Emmanuel. Excerpts:

By Tom Moses

Rumours are rife to the fact that the relationship between your former boss, Chief Godswill Akpabio and his successor has collapsed because of the over-bearing pressure mounted by Akpabio on Governor Udom Emmanuel on certain issues, how true are these rumours?

Aniekan Umanah

I’ll like to say that contrary to all the false news making the rounds, there is no feud between Chief Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past Governor of Akwa-Ibom State and his successor, Governor Udom Emmanuel, there is no feud whatsoever.

These are two brothers and two stakeholders who are working together for the interest of the state, to ensure the continued development of the state.

Recall Governor Udom Emmanuel had made it clear that when he comes on board, he would drive the sustainability programmes of the administration to ensure that the legacies of Governor Akpabio’s administration are sustained and taken to the next level and of course, he has started very well, he is consulting very well, he is constituting the requisite framework for the take-off of his administration and don’t forget, we are only talking about an administration less than a month old but people and politicians are throwing spanners from different corners and so but that is incorrect.

There is no feud between these two gentlemen. All I know is that the two gentlemen are working seriously to ensure that Akwa-Ibom continues to grow.

But it is alleged that the imposition of Akpabio’s men on Udom is against the agitation for fresh hands in government. What is your reaction?

I will also like to disabuse the minds of the people on the issue of the nomination of commissioners. Clearly, it is the governor’s prerequisite and right to decide who to nominate to go for clearance for appointment into his cabinet and I think he has started well because, looking at antecedents, if you take a look at Lagos State from 1999, there are people who started with Tinubu who are till today in the Lagos State cabinet.

You don’t sacrifice experience; you don’t also sacrifice competence on the altar of politics. So, for some of these things, you do some strategic balancing for your administration to take-off well.

So, there are certain things you don’t just sacrifice at the beginning and I think His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel has started well and has done well so far and he will succeed because Senator Akpabio will be at the other end to give him the requisite support and advice that will help him to succeed because this is one candidate that he believes in and he did not mince words to Akwa-Ibom people that this is one man that would be a good governor.

He used to describe him as a worthy successor and a worthy brother, so, I know that to that extent, things are working well and will work better and better.

 But what of the recycling of political appointees that it doesn’t share the goods round everyone?

That is for those who think that appointment is for wealth-making. Political appointment first, is for you to come and work for the state.

So, that is a misnomer and this misnomer must be corrected in the brains of people to first understand that competence and capacity to what you are bringing to the table matters. So, please, these distractions are not necessary at all; they are not necessary.

What is your comment on the relocation of the Elections Petition Tribunal from the state to Abuja?

It is totally senseless and uncalled for to relocate the tribunal to Abuja. The Electoral Act is very clear on it so, for me, it is an unconstitutional act which should be treated as such because it is an aberration. On what grounds are you relocating the tribunal? Is Akwa-Ibom at war that the tribunal should be relocated? It is all part of the plot and scheme by some people.

The elections petitions tribunal should sit here or why have they not moved the one in Lagos? Why have they not moved those of other states to Abuja? Why Akwa-Ibom? Why Rivers?

I urge the judiciary not to allow itself to be used by political interests or groups to further their aggrandizements against Akwa-Ibom and other PDP states that they are targeting