Emmanuel/Akpabio conflict gets messier as gov sacks SSG

The ongoing political war between Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, and his estranged godfather, Mr Godswill Akpabio, has claimed its next victim - Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr Etekamba Umoren.

Emmanuel on Monday sacked Umoren, nominated into the cabinet by Akpabio, Senate Minority Leader.

The first official to be sacked from the cabinet was the then commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mr Udo Ekpenyong, about two weeks ago.

However, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, who announced the sacking of the SSG, said the move was to “rejig the governance structure” in the state.

The sacked officials, Ekpenyong and Umoren, are from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District where Akpabio comes from.

Political analysts in the state believe Emmanuel is likely to remove more people from the government in order to weaken Akpabio’s structure and influence as the governor seeks re-election in 2019.

The state government has appointed a new SSG, Mr Emmanuel Ekuwem, a telecom engineer from Mbo Local Government Areas.

Akpabio-Udom feud became public in December when the senator said in a public gathering that the governor had neglected Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

Apart from his former allies turning against the senator, Emmanuel has personally warned that he was going to deal decisively with any politician who instigates trouble in the state, irrespective of his status.

Akpabio, when he was still the governor, single-handedly brought Emmanuel from Lagos where he was serving as a director in Zenith Bank. The ex-governor made Emmanuel his successor despite the opposition from his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and others.

PT