Trouble At The APC Primary: A manifestation of Mass Poverty in Akwa Ibom State They say: “Umana Okon Umana won!” They say: “Umana won by 2444 votes!” Of course, Umana Okon Umana did not win anything; it is all propaganda, designed and written by those who claim to be supporters of Umana Okon Umana. What they did not say is that there are 5,000 registered delegates, who were supposed to cast their votes at the Primary. But for the purpose of the argument, let’s agree that Umana Okon Umana received 2444 votes--- out of 5000 votes---there still remain 2,556 delegates---or the majority. Again, let’s say Group Captain Sam Ewang received 1 vote, as they claim he did, and Tempo 2 votes, while Edehe received 6 votes. That leaves 2,547 votes unaccounted for---still the majority. What this means is that if the primary election was conducted in a fair manner, void of violence, it is very likely that Mr. Umana Okon Umana would never have garnered enough votes to win the nomination. This may explain why Umana resorted to violence as a means to an end. Everyone knows that Umana Okon Umana did not win any election, because there was none to win. Despite all the so-called jubilation over the victory of Umana, it is very likely that by this weekend or as early as next week, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) will announce the date with which to conduct a new primary election. What is intriguing is the win-or-die attitude which Umana Okon Umana has transferred from PDP to APC. When APC held its Ward Congress in November (or was it earlier?), there was no violence of any sort. At that Ward Congress, a total state-wide of 5000 delegates were elected and they are the ones who were supposed to cast their votes today. Umana Okon Umana was not there at the time; he was still a member of PDP, campaigning to succeed Akpabio on the PDP platform. On November 28, 2014 (just six days ago) Umana Okon Umana left PDP to APC. All those who were marginalized at the PDP rejoiced because they thought Umana’s defection would help Senator Udoedehe to mobilize the masses enough to defeat the imposition ambition of Godswill Akpabio. What no one anticipated was that Umana Okon Umana would come with a calculated destructive attitude, which he used to deploy for Godswill Akpabio. Those who are rejoicing with the attitude of Umana should bear in mind that their support for Umana is a support for Godswill Akpabio to accomplish imposition. Because no matter what Umana and his supporters may do, as long as Godswill Akpabio is still the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umana Okon Umana will never, repeat, will never, succeed Akpabio; Akpabio himself have said that on several occasions. Umana has too many skeletons in his closet enough for Akpabio to use his Executive power and dispositions to nail Umana and put him into galore at any time. So far, Mr. Akpabio is not observably reactive, but who can predict Akpabio? Again, for the purpose of the argument, let’s say Umana wins the APC gubernatorial nomination and Godswill Akpabio wants to stop him from beating Udom Emmanuel. What will happen to APC, if their only gubernatorial candidate is picked up and locked up till God knows when, even if the charges against him will be on the basis of false allegations. What that would mean is that APC, or the opposition will have no candidate and this will lead to a victory by Udom, unopposed. It would then be considered prudent to support Udoedehe whom Akpabio can never accuse of any financial improprieties. If Umana had joined the APC with the interest of the people in mind, he would have considered his status as a new face in the party and cooperate with Senator Udoedehe for a better transition towards easing Akpabio out of Akwa Ibom State psychic. But instead, Umana Okon Umana is capitalizing on the general and grinding poverty suffered by the masses, a situation which he helped create and nourished, by playing “money politics” against power of reasoning. He throws money around like sand. He believes like Akpabio, that what money can buy, more money can buy---some say he imparted the principle to Akpabio. This kind of attitude in itself is not only myopic, but blinding; especially when one considers the future of the marginalized, the poor, and the neglected segments of Akwa Ibom State. Written by Ikpafak Thompson Essien The Voice of the Poor Masses Defender of the Oppressed Social Critic A native of Ibibio nation of Ubium Republic extraction, now living in the safe and beautiful city of Portland, Oregon, where no AKPF, ADUMA, ADV, and Akwa Ibom State politicians can reach.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 03:17:08 +0000
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