By Bayo Etema, Uyo
After months of intrigues, scheming, political horse trading and seeking of divine direction and permutations, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has finally presented his anointed successor for the 2023 Governorship election to his kitchen cabinet.
He is Pastor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources.
He was the Chief Executive Officer of Royalty Group, a company he founded in 1997 with business interest in hospitality, manufacturing and oil and gas sector.
It was gathered that the governor did the secret unveiling before a powerful cartel of his kitchen cabinet and most trusted allies recently.
The group is Code named “G31 Believers” and is made up of one person per local government area across the state before the Sunday’s presentation to the enlarged stakeholders.
Pastor Eno was presented yesterday at the enlarged meeting of the PDP stakeholders at the government house in Uyo by the former Governor of the State, Obong Victor Attah.
Already, a group of clergy in the state, called “Father’s of Faith” are to play a more prominent role in a subtle campaign that will commence May 2021, aimed at announcing the candidate under a religious setting.
The Clergy group which will become more prominent and powerful in the days ahead is to be led by Apostle Lawrence Achudume, of Victory Life Bible Church International.
The Governor recently visited his church at Ogun State and he is rumoured to be one of the power brokers in the adminstration.
As a follow up meeting to kick start the campaign process, a follow up meeting has been scheduled for Monday, April 26, in Uyo to be presided over by former Attorney General and Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam at Enjmm Hotel and Hon Monday Uko, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports at Monty Hotels respectively.
The Governor it was gathered finally settled for Pst Eno following the feelers he got from his kitchen cabinet that his earlier choice of Mr Udom Inoyo, will be hard to fly and the need for him to present a candidate with minimum political baggage that will be easy for major stakeholders to adopt and rally round.
It was gathered that as part of the plans to ensure the smooth operations of the plot, Pastor Umo Eno, will be elevated to the position of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, by December 2022, a move that will see Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem leaving government.
The current SSG whom many of his kinsmen have accused of not doing enough to protect the rights and interest of the Oro nation within the adminstration has already being notified of his December 2022 “terminal date” under the deal brokered recently.
After the yesterday’s presentation, Pastor Umo Eno earlier on Monday led political gladiators from the state, including the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South senatorial district, Akon Eyakenyi and immediate past National Legal Adviser, Emmanuel Enoidem to officially informed former Governor Victor Attah about his ambition.
Shortly after Eno presentation, PDP youths in Eket local government carried out a procession celebrating his choice by Akwa Ibom stakeholders.
