Secret Reporters No place to hide
Akan Okokon
A few days ago, Lady Valerie Ebe, former deputy governor, Chief Afangide, a PDP leader from Essien Udim LGA, Prince Ukpong Akpabi and Anietie Ekong, Sen Godswill Akpabio’s Media Assistant arrived the private residence of Gov. Udom Emmanuel in Ewet Housing Estate to meet with the governor.
Their mission was essentially to plead Akpabio’s case before Udom Emmanuel, placate the governor and apologize on his behalf. Mediating the meeting was Lady Ebe. The senator participated in the meeting by calling in from Abuja. He was placed on speaker phone to the hearing of everybody.
All went well. Udom spoke of his support and patronage to Akpabio, recounting steps he’d taken to cover his tracks and get him out of trouble. Akpabio apologized to His Excellency, claiming that his ‘all is not well’ speech and the ‘500,000-vote’ threat he issued was a mistake. He expressed support and loyalty to Udom Emmanuel and spoke of his willingness to lead him to a resounding win in the next election.
The following day, Akpabio spotted a black cap bearing the ‘Dakkada’ insignia to the Senate plenary, just to further convey a sense of rapproachment with his successor.
To a casual observer, wearing the ‘Dakkada’ cap is a symbol of Akpabio’s apology and re-dedication of his loyalty to his godson, but to experienced politicians in Akwa Ibom, the whole thing is akin to a sweet sound from the cymbal for Udom’s ears, and is meant to deceive and mislead the governor into his political perdition.
After the firestorm erupted, the senator has made several conciliatory gestures to the governor. Many people have also privately begged Udom to sheathe his sword and reconcile with Akpabio, insisting that he cannot win an election without the senator’s backing. But unknown to many, Akpabio has been secretly working on a series of counter measures and plots within his Ikot Ekpene senatorial district against Udom Emmanuel.
His ultimate goal is to control, or be perceived to be in control of the bloc votes of the zone, so that Udom would be forced to beg and pay him for his support, and then enter into fresh terms of agreement with him. It is not clear whether Udom Emmanuel is savvy enough to see through Akpabio’s deception and scheming carefully masked by sweet sounds of apologies and pleadings. The former governor is notorious for being beguiling, cunning, clever and deceptive. He is the headmaster of the Tortoise School of Politics. There’s a long list of prominent Akwa Ibom people who had been of help to Akpabio, but ended up being devoured by him.
