Etim EtimAkwa Ibom State APC held a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday in Uyo and resolved to set up a committee to seek reconciliation of members and resolution of the festering crisis that has rocked the party for years.
The Peace and Reconciliation Committee would be composed of two members from each senatorial district plus Dr. Ita Udosen, South-South Zonal Secretary and Dr. Chris Akpan, Deputy National Welfare Officer.
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Many important dignitaries, including Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Umana Okon Umana attended the meeting.
As soon as the Stakeholders’ meeting ended, speculations arose about the real intentions behind the Peace and Reconciliation Committee. ‘’The real intention of this Committee is to persuade Senator Ita Enang to withdraw his case in court and allow Akan Udofia to run as the party’s candidate’’, a member who attended the meeting told me on telephone. “I am in Abuja. I wasn’t in the meeting. But are you sure of what you are saying? Was Ita Enang at the meeting? What did he say?’’, I fired back at the caller.
I then placed a call to Senator Ita Enang to hear directly from him. “I wasn’t at the meeting. I have just arrived Uyo from Abuja’’, Enang told me, and added, “In any case, I do not have any court case against Akan Udofia, or APC member. You will recall that the Federal High Court in Uyo has given judgement in the matter I brought against the purported declaration of Akan as our governorship candidate; the Court has ordered that APC should conduct another governorship primary in Akwa Ibom and that Akan Udofia is not a member of our party. It is he, Akan, who has gone to the Court of Appeal to appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court. So, if anybody has to withdraw his case in court, it is Akan Udofia who should do so. After withdrawing his case, he can then apply to join the party, because as at now, the Court had pronounced that he is not a member of APC.’’
Enang continued: “People should not confuse our situation with that of Cross River State. In Cross River, Bassey Otu had won the governorship primary, and Senator Eno had challenged him in court. When Asiwaju went for the Town Hall Meeting in Calabar two weeks ago, he appealed to Eno to withdraw the case from court, and Eno has done so. Similarly, Akan should withdraw his case from the Appeal Court in the interest of peace and reconciliation.’’
‘’But Akan Udofia was at the Stakeholders’ meeting this afternoon, despite the Court pronouncement that he is not a member of APC. Is he flouting the court judgement?’’, I asked.
‘’Some people are pushing Akan around, and he doesn’t seem to know his left from his right. He has no business attending any of our meetings or events. He is not a member of APC. The Court said so’’, Enang stated.
I look forward to the Judgement of the Court of Appeal and the recommendations of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee.
For now, Happy New Year, folks. 2023 will be full of drama.
Etim Etim
ETIM ETIM is a journalist, banker and author. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, a Regional Manager in Access Bank and is currently a Columnist in Prime Business Africa, The Cable and Businessday newspapers.
He is also the Chief Executive of Stein Meyer Communications, a major media consultancy and the author of the best-selling book, "Akwa Ibom Heroes: Inside Story of the Fight for Abrogation of Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy" and co-author of another book, "Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader".
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