* Over Duplication of Campaign Interest Group.

A major crisis of confidence has broken out in the camps of Governor Udom Emmanuel and his preferred aspirant, Umo Eno, over the recent duplication of the campaign structure.

Sources close to Government House informed our reporter that problem started when the National President of Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), Barr Emmanuel Enoidem approached the governor, insisting that the political powers of his group should not be whittled in favour of the recently inaugurated Ibom Consolidation Project (ICP).

Enoidem is said to have earlier disagreed with the formation of ICP, blaming the confusion on Prince Enobong Uwah, whom he reportedly accused of betrayal in selling the idea of ICP to the governor.

Apparently, according to sources, the governor had long been displeased with the poor showing of MPM in marketing Umo Eno, whom he unilaterally picked against popular opinion with over N17bn said to have been expended already.

However, an attempt to inaugurate a chapter of ICP in Etim Ekpo, Enoidem’s home local government, today (March 21,2022), resulted in fisticuffs as the former National Legal Adviser of PDP reportedly physically disrupted the event.

We learnt Enoidem’s argument was that two rival and independent political structures have never successfully managed a campaign to produce a governor before in Akwa Ibom State.

The MPM chieftain was said to have dared Gov Emmanuel to come to Etim Ekpo to a inaugurate ICP by himself if he felt so disappointed with MPM, but warned that governor risked losing the delegate election for his preferred aspirant.

He was said to have cited successful unified groups like the Akwa Peoples Front (AKPF), which managed the campaign structure of Governor Godswill Akpabio as well as the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA) in Udom Emmanuel’s time, submitting that all fringe interests and organisations must work together to manage well the campaigns.

Enoidem is said to have fallen out with Enobong Uwah, the Secretary of MPM, over money issues, leading to the latter approaching the governor with ICP idea as alternative to MPM.

Already, the crisis has permeated other local governments, creating a gulf among hitherto United supporters of Umo Eno, particularly those vying for elective offices.

While many of them are said to have lost confidence over disbursement of funds, some others are said to have lost confidence in MPM, particularly where the coordinators are not in support of those running for state or National Assembly elections.

For instance, in Ibeno, Rt Hon Okpolupm Ette, Commissioner for Special Duties, who is eyeing the House of Representatives, was said not to be comfortable with the MPM structure controlled by the council chairman, High Chief William Mkpah, as they do not see eye-to-eye. Ette is said to be in support of the ICP formation.

In Eket, Hon Frank Archibong, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, whose office the chunk of the funds have been drawn for the Umo Eno campaigns, is said to have fallen out with Ekanem Willie, a board member and major player in ICP formation, and Chief Assam Assam, the DG of Umo Eno Campaign.

We gathered that at a meeting two Sundays ago, at Chief Assam’s residence in Eket, where the issue of ICP chapter inauguration was brought up, the commissioner stormed out of the meeting, accusing the others of trying to undermine his office.

There is also a reported power struggle between two commissioners from Oro nation, Rt Hon Orman Esin, commissioner for Culture and Tourism and his Transport and Solid Minerals counterpart, Rt Hon Uno Etim Uno, also traced to MPM and ICP.

We gathered that while Uno, who is said to be lobbying for a deputy governorship position under Umo Eno, is inclined to ICP, Esin wields more powers through MPM.

It was gathered that since Esin became aware of plans to empower Uno as the Oron Federal Constituency leader of ICP, he has been using all available means to frustrate the actualisation of the move.

Observers argue that with such bad blood within the system, ICP May experience stillbirth, while MPM may wallow in stunted growth.

However, ICP is said to have received Udom’s blessing following the poor acceptability of Umo Eno by the delegates and the entire populace, despite the huge funds and propaganda machinery at the disposal of MPM.

The governor was said to have shouted at Enoidem last week, when he raised the issue of more funds, querying the bases for such fresh demand despite the billions released so far, without a commensurate result.

https://ourdailywire.com/major-crisis-in-udom-umo-eno-camp-over-duplication-of-campaign-interest-group/