There was a drama at the Akwa Ibom State Government House on Sunday evening as Governor Udom Emmanuel unveiled Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Mr Umo Eno as the “God chosen” to succeed him.
But his choice has created a big division in the State Executive Council and State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with many members against it.
Emmanuel has invited all party stakeholders including National Assembly members, governorship aspirants and party leaders to a meeting at the Government House.
The agenda of the meeting was not stated beforehand. But the Governor announced his preferred successor.
The announcement ended months of speculations and tension in the State over Emmanuel’s preferred successor.
Former Governor Victor Attah and some fathers of Faith, an association of influential church leaders in the State, it was gathered, influenced the Governor’s preference for the Commissioner.
The Nation learnt Emmanuel invited some party elders, including some of those nursing gubernatorial ambition to the Governor’s lodge without disclosing the meeting’s agenda to them.
But the announcement reportedly caused a rift in the State Executive Council with some Commissioners nursing governorship aspiration very uncomfortable with the development.
Former State Assembly Speaker and current Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Hon Onofiok Luke, who is said to be eyeing the governorship in 2023 reportedly stormed out of the meeting after the announcement, sources said.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Iniobong Ememobong and his Economic Development and Ibom Deep seaport counterpart, Akan Okon were absent at the meeting.
Emmanuel’s Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udo, who confirmed the development to The Nation, said the action was taken by a cross section of stakeholders in the State.
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“The Governor announced that he (Eno) was the one God has revealed to him as the next Governor of the state and he was unveiled to all the stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of the State by the former governor, Obong Victor Attah, who then commended the choice.
“It was an array of the political elders made up of Senators and House of Representatives members,” Udo stressed.
When asked if there were some dissenting voices at the meeting on the choice of Eno, Udo said he wasn’t aware of any.
