The emergence of Umana Okon Umana as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state has changed the political permutations on who will eventually become the next governor of the state. Umana, no doubt has for long nurtured the ambition of becoming the governor of Akwa Ibom State having served in several positions in government; and rising to become the secretary to the state government of Akwa Ibom state at one point in his political career.
Indeed, Umana’s hope of clinching the governorship position on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) became unrealistic due to the horse-trading and political intrigues of the power brokers in PDP, a party of which he has been a staunch member right from inception till recently
Akwa Ibom as state within the Nigerian federation has three senatorial Districts comprising Uyo, Ikot-Ekpene and Eket; and the power brokers in PDP in their wisdom had zoned the position of governorship to Eket senatorial district. Their argument was that, Victor Attah who emerged as governor of the state in 1999 was from Uyo. Attah was later succeeded by the incumbent Godswill Akpabio who hails from Ikot-Ekpene. The implication of this arrangement means all contestants who are not from Eket are therefore expected to withdraw from the race. This eventually became the case when PDP later announced that after reviewing the decision of the enlarged state executive committee of the state, its national working committee (NWC) has accepted and fully endorsed the decision to zone the Akwa Ibom state governorship position to Eket senatorial zone
It was on the strength of this bogus arrangement and the subsequent endorsement by the state national working committee that resulted in Umana Okon Umana defecting from the PDP to the APC, who warmly welcomed him and his teeming supporters to their fold. As some political pundits have argued, politics in Nigeria is like a game and defecting from one political party to another is part of the game.
Not a few political watchers believed this deft move could be a spoiler for the PDP. This is because Umana is seen as a people’s politician and a public steward of unimpeachable character, competent and immensely capable; one with intense compassion for community development with astute leadership qualities; a leader whose cumulative attitude, over time, has distinguished him from the multitudes and placed him shoulder high above others
But it is important to note that while the PDP has insisted on zoning, some very strong members of the Uyo Federal Constituency Stakeholders’ Assembly of the PDP have vehemently kicked against the decision. They have indeed threatened to defect to another party if the PDP goes ahead with its zoning arrangement. To make good their threat, majority of them actually defected with Umana to the APC leaving a yawning gap within the PDP fold
Also, as a fall of the PDP zoning system, all the other 22 governorship aspirants under the PDP platform who felt aggrieved took the PDP leadership to court on the bogus zoning system the party adopted in disenfranchising them from contesting the primaries. As the melodrama continued, the aggrieved governorship aspirants later metamorphosed in a group known as the G22.
Meanwhile, the beauty of democracy is that it must bring along progress and development to humanity. Hence, any man aspiring to an office of honour such as that of governor of a state should command respect among the governed and have untainted and impeccable character.
The defection of Umana who wields a considerable influence within the PDP and a strong support base from the Akwa Ibomites has, therefore, further raised the stakes on who eventually becomes the governor of the state come February 2015. To further make matter worse for the PDP, Umana, taking into consideration the Akwa Ibom peoples’ feelings and disenchantment towards the PDP brand of politics, demonstrated an uncanny wisdom by selecting Engr. Ben Ukpong as his running mate. To most watchers of Akwa Ibom politics, this was a master political stroke that could create panic in the camp of the opposition bearing in mind the Oron people holds the swing votes in the state politics.
Ukpong who hails from Urue – Offong/Oruko local government area, is an Oron by birth; and the Oron people, as earlier mentioned, are seen as the ethnic group with the swing vote that can conveniently cause upset in any elections in Akwa Ibom State. So the wisdom of Umana choosing Ukpong as his running mate is said to be one of the best options politically to wrestle the state from the firm grip of PDP.
Aside from the bloc votes Ukpong is likely to deliver to APC, he is also coming on board with a strong pedigree and a staggering profile that can cause goose pimples for the opposition. Ukpong, FNSE has more than 28 years of engineering experience covering the scope of engineering design, evaluation, development, engineering procurement, supervision of construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water supply, storm water and waste water drainage system, and their appurtenance facilities.
This experience, he obtained during his years of meritorious services with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Jos Metropolitan Dev Board. (JMDB) and Plateau Directorate for Integrated Rural Development (PDIRD). Ukpong’s assignment as Project supervisor, Project interface coordinator, Senior Staff engineer, Chief Resident Engineer (CRE), and Assistant Director (AD) as well as Deputy Director (DD) demonstrate his well-rounded abilities and capabilities to manage projects and people. He has proven expertise in applying project management and business tools for the successful execution of varied projects achieving improvement, capacity enhancements, and equipment optimisation; cost reductions, quality and schedule objectives. Engr. Ukpong has strong leadership and, excellent coordination ability as well as, interpersonal and communication skills.
In all, he has wide range of experience in the development of new towns/cities with the provision of first class infrastructure. He is highly innovative and has passion for excellent services at all times. In addition to his engineering activities, he is seriously involved in community development services as community leader which was noticed by the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR) who conferred on him the honorary title of Nta-Nta Oro. He is a devoted Christian of Roman Catholic faith married to Dr.(Mrs.) Ini-Abasi Ben Ukpong and blessed with Five Children
As the Akwa Ibom people go to the polls to choose their governor come February 2015; the die is cast and nobody can take the Umana/Ukpong APC ticket for granted!
• Aburime is Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Consultant: email;