Now We Can Go Our Separate Ways
BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
Two things happened in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday: there was dancing on the streets of Uyo, as Godswill Akpabio, former governor of the state formally decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC at the centre, then there was panic in the Government House, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC froze the state accounts.
The good news echoed across the state and beyond with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of APC leading other party leaders to receive Akpabio who had earlier visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London and Bola Tinubu in Abuja. But while people of the state were still savouring the import of Akpabio’s movement, the bad news took over. It filtered out that government of the state may have been grounded. The implication, in part, is that workers in the state may suffer more over payment of salary, development will stop and contractors may not be paid.
Akpabio could boast that throughout his stay in government there was nothing of this nature. That would be interpreted to mean that he was such a good manager of resources. Oshiomhole said that much, and the former governor said the same thing.
This may not be the first experience that Emmanuel Udom, the governor would have with security. Early in his administration the Directorate of State Services, DSS stormed the government house in Uyo supposedly in search of wads of foreign currency in the presidential wing of the government house. The authorities had to halt the operation from Abuja. It is either the DSS was chasing shadows that time or they were looking for what they assumed the immediate past administration left in the allowed region of government house.
Udom rose to power on the political platform of Akpabio, but they have had a frosty relationship of late. In fact, the defection may have have widened the gauge between the two men, as the incumbent governor sacked two commissioners said to have been loyal to Akpabio from his cabinet hours before Akpabio formally decamped.
The conflict came to the open when Akpabio at a function last December accused Udom of neglecting his area. There were exchanges of innuendo. But late last month the two appeared to have warmed up to each other , as Akpabio even joined in the endorsement rally for Udom ahead of next election. Things changes dramatically when about two weeks ago it was whispered that the former governor might decamp to APC.
Udom said he wishes his estranged godfather the best of luck in his new party.
