Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umoh Eno, who has been crying over threats of losing the political structures in his state to the senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, appears to have sought solace in Nyesom Wike, as he begins to court the friendship of the FCT minister.
During the week, Eno, who was brought into active politics and public governance by his predecessor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, has been shouting blue murder. He feels threatened that certain unnamed persons are trying to pull the rug of political structure off his feet, ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election.
Practically, Eno does not own any political structure. He was brought into office by the structure that belonged to Udom. But he and Udom have since fallen apart, especially after he decided to leave the PDP, where Udom has now taken full control.
On the other hand, the senate president, who is undoubtedly, the leader of the APC in the state, is in charge of his party’s structures and would use it as he likes at the appropriate time.
Eno’s fears, it was learnt, is that his former godfather will not be willing to allow him take advantage of the PDP structures, even though the party chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan is seen as his stooge in the PDP.
In fact, before defecting to the APC, Eno had announced publicly, that he would be controlling the PDP and the APC, apparently confident that Akpan and his other loyalists who stayed back in the PDP, will protect his interest in the party.
He may have also been sure that with the friendship he had cultivated with Akpabio, he would not have any issues navigating the leadership curve in the APC.
But reality appears to have stared at him in the face. His public outcry over threats by some persons to take away the structures from him, has been seen as an indication of discomfort.
While speaking at an event in Uyo as part of activities to mark the state’s 38th anniversary, Eno repeatedly warned that he was aware that some people were meeting with a view to dislodging him as the owner of the political structures.
The governor’s public statements are a pointer to a crack in his relationship with Akpabio. Before his public utterances on the structure saga, he had said earlier that he would not seek to become a senator after ruling as governor for eight years, an apparent reference to Akpabio who went to the senate after his reign as governor.
The twin fear of losing his re-election and the fear of not being able to produce a successor may have informed his decision to begin to be closer to Wike, who is known to be a master in the control of structures.
On Wednesday, Wike was in Uyo on Eno’s invitation, to inaugurate a road project initiated by the governor. There are speculations that Eno needs the experience of Wike to be able to handle Akpabio and Udom, to enable him survive the coming political storm.
On arrival in Uyo, Wike who was accompanied by the PDP national secretary, Sam Anyanwu, was received by the state PDP leaders who were clad in the party’s uniform. Among those who received him was the party chairman.
Sources told TNN that part of the reasons for inviting Wike to Uyo was to be able to seek counsel and to also deepen the relationship with him, so that from time to time, he could run to him for help and advice.
TNN reached out to the chief press secretary to the governor, Ekerette Udo, as well as the commissioner for information, Elder Aniekan Umanah, for comments on this, but none of them responded to messages sent to them on Whatsapp, as at the time of filing this report.
