Oron rejects Akpabio’s proposal, insists on governorship

The recent meeting between the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, with a cross-section of Oron leaders at Government House, Uyo, is said to have ended in a deadlock, as the Oron people vehemently rejected Akpabio’s offer.

Sources at the meeting told Daily Independent that the governor, for the first time, was calm in his plea with his “minority brothers,” to accord him support and understanding in his succession plan.

The source who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekpenyong Ntekim’s refusal to succumb to Akpabio’s persistent entreaty to forego his governorship ambition for the Senatorial offer formed the sole agenda of the meeting.

Akpabio, who admitted that he has consistently offered the Senate seat to Ntekim in exchange for a four-year ticket for his anointed aspirant, Udom Emmanuel, sounded frustrated at Ntekim’s refusal.

Ntekim is said to have severally requested that the governor should rather convince the Oron people because, “Governorship is communal while Senate is personal.”

Akpabio, to convince the Oron people, is said to have sworn that Udom would sign a memorandum of understanding to hand over to Oron after four years, and the MOU would be counter-signed by him (Akpabio), PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, and President Goodluck Jonathan. The MOU would also contain other juicy offers to Oron, including ministerial appointments.

As at press time, the Oron position was yet to be conveyed to the governor, who left the state for the National Council of States meeting in Abuja.

Meanwhile, there were reports of restive Oron youths who went round homes of those that attended the meeting with Akpabio, to warn them of attempts to betray the Oron governorship crusade. Only recently, the Oron traditional rulers invoked juju at the ancestral installation shrine on any son or daughter of Oron who works against the Oron 2015 governorship project.

Source: dailyindependent