There is palpable tension in Akwa Ibom State
as the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, was
literarily chased out of Government House yesterday and told to resign within forty-eight hours.
Early signs that there was a crisis emerged late yesterday when an
unusual number of heavily armed security operatives were noticed at the
main gate and inside the premises of the Government House, Uyo.
The
security operatives frisked visitors and staff of the Government House
even as they threatened to shoot anyone who dared to enter the premises
without due clearance.
Daily Newswatch learnt that the reason for
the unusual security beef-up was not unconnected with moves by the state
government to ‘sack’ the SSG.
It was also learnt that the SSG was
disallowed from entering his office when he reported for work yesterday
as his office was under lock and key and manned by stern-looking State
Security Services operatives (SSS) and mobile policemen.
It could
not immediately be confirmed the reason behind the decision by the state
government to ask Umana to resign, but upon further investigations, it
was found out that the action may not be unconnected with the 2015
governorship issue.
Umana, a former commissioner for finance in the
immediate past administration of Obong Victor Attah, was appointed as
the SSG by Governor Godswill Akpabio.
He recently indicated his
intention to contest the 2015 governorship race on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) against the power rotation arrangement of
the party which indicated that the governorship slot has been zoned to
Eket Senatorial District. He is from Uyo Senatorial District.
Governor Akpabio had, during the weekend, disowned Umana for claiming that the governor had anointed him as his successor.
Daily Newswatch learnt that the SSG’s ‘forced’ resignation may not be
unconnected with his refusal to accept the position of the Managing
Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which becomes
vacant next month.
Sources told Daily Newswatch that the decision
to nominate Umana for appointment as NDDC MD was seen as a ploy to draw
him away from contesting the governorship race in the state.
It is
believed that the authorities might not be disposed to Umana’s turning
down the NDDC offer and insisting on contesting the governorship race.
Consequently, the state government was said to have nominated Francis Uduyork and two others for the plump NNDC MD job.
Contacted, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah,
declined comments on grounds that he was not aware of the development.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Anietie Ukpe, did not
respond to his numerous calls from journalists either.
Source: Daily Newswatch
