By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Former Deputy Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Umem Udoma has identified ego and pride as major factors responsible for the current crisis engulfing the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Udoma who is a chieftain of APC in the state, spoke while appearing as a guest on “Team Nigeria”, an Inspiration FM Radio News and Current Affairs programme on Tuesday in Uyo.
He said lack of power sharing formula has resulted in the party constantly washing its dirty linen in public, a situation he added as not just ridiculous, but has continually impeded APC’s ability to present itself as a better alternative to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom.
Hon Udoma who also berated the APC for its constant antagonistic approach towards the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the inability of Akwa Ibom delegates to vote at the just concluded APC presidential primary in Abuja was a proof that the commission remains the referee in the contest and the extent the ongoing war of ego and pride has destroyed the party.
“All those displaying ego and pride must be careful and realise that INEC remains the referee. We have a yellow card already. A second yellow card will not be good for APC and there will be more red cards from INEC to Akwa Ibom APC in 2023. Referees also give red cards to coaches and technical advisers and they leave the pitch,” he warned.
He added, “There have been a significant improvement in our electoral process. Rigging and ballot snatching will be drastically reduced. The days of calculating one plus one as five is gone. One plus one must remain two in 2023 and that is why some Professors who helped manipulate one plus one to become five in 2019 are in jail today”.
On the controversy over the 2023 Ikot Ekpene APC Senatorial ticket, the former Deputy Speaker noted that it is both morally and politically reprehensible for anyone to contemplate denying Abak Federal Constituency the ticket, warning that the APC will be swimming against the tide if such happens as zoning must be honoured because among the four federal constituencies that make up the Senatorial district, Ukanafun/Oruk Anam constituency have produced three Senators, Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency five, Ikono/Ini two while Abak Federal Constituency has not had any.
“If the APC denies Abak Federal Constituency the Senate ticket, APC will fail woefully because while PDP scored 10,926 votes at the 2019 Senatorial elections in Abak LGA, the APC scored 9,665. The PDP won us with only 1,261 votes. Abak LGA gave Akpabio the highest number of valid votes in 2019 aside Essien Udim. You cannot ignore us and threaten to also deny us House of Representatives tickets”, he warned.
He said the “Carrot of Senate President” being dangled by Senator Akpabio is an old gimmick that won’t work in 2023
“You cannot be Senate President without first winning election into the Senate or when you are not even a candidate for the 2023 election. Any attempt to deny Abak the APC Senatorial ticket and the recent attempt to forcefully substitute Mr Clement Jimbo as the Abak Federal Constituency APC Candidate will consume the party. Ignore Abak votes at your peril and no amount of midnight primary or swearing in of party officers at midnight will save APC”, he said.
According to Hon Udoma, 2023 is not about intimidation and victimization of Abak Federal Constituency as the crisis engulfing the APC could be easily resolved if ego is dropped and true reconciliation embraced.
“We must share power in Akwa Ibom APC. APC has no State Leader that is why there is leadership crisis in the party. That is why everything is compromised and once the process is compromised, the outcome cannot stand the test of time.
“Selfishness is what is killing Akwa Ibom APC and I feel sad that we are unable to present ourselves as a credible opposition party in Akwa Ibom. Party structure is responsible for the crisis and the best way the issue can be resolved so that we can have peace and meet up the August substitution deadline is for the National Working Committee to dissolve both factions of the party in the State, set up a Caretaker Committee from both sides and come up with a harmonisation that will be accepted to all. That’s the only solution”, he stated.
He said the lack of power sharing is what has led to the disintegration of the APC in the State and described the defection of Senator J.J. Udoedeghe to the NNPP as unfortunate and a big minus to the party as his exit has wrecked part of the party’s structure despite some chieftains living in denial.
