http://blog4all-com..com/2013/03/mfonobong-edet-akwa-iboms-next-governor.html

Last week, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State confirmed everyone’s fears when he finally showed a chip of his mind considering the 2015 governorship election. As far back as 2008 which is quite a long time before now, some whistle blowers had alerted the possibility of Governor Akpabio jettisoning the zoning arrangement in his succession plans.

During the build up to the 2011 governorship elections, Akpabio’s position had been that of support for zoning. And so from the creeks of Eastern Obolo to the plains of Okobo, the Governor told his people in Eket Senatorial district that he as a product of zoning will stand by zoning. He even went a step further to say that the people of the district must however unite in one voice and one mind to bring out a credible candidate with proven credentials to sustain on the transformational agenda of his administration.

While addressing participants at the hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution held at the Civil Service Auditorium in Uyo, Governor Godswill Akpabio has called on people of the state to support the introduction of zoning in the Nigerian Constitution as according to him, zoning and power rotation would help protect the minority. He informed the people that his emergence as governor of Akwa Ibom State was as a result of zoning arrangement. (See National Mirror of November 16,2012) He also called for fiscal federalism and announced that a town hall meeting involving all stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State is to hold in each of the three Senatorial Districts in the state.

Governor Akpabio remarked “A town hall meeting would soon hold on scheduled dates yet to announced to afford Akwa Ibom people in different Senatorial Districts comprising Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo to present their problems and give input on the way forward for a perfect administration.”

But close observers were quick to spot the contradictions in his position.

Earlier on May 29, 2012, the governor in a live television interview to mark that year’s democracy day said that it was only his senatorial district (Ikot Ekpene) that should be excused from participating in the 2015 governorship elections. He went further to say that just as was done in 2006, the people of the state would go into prayers and ask God to give direction as to how to select the governor who would continue on the path of development going on in the state. He said that as God allowed His will to be done then, He would do the same in 2015.

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