Umana Okon Umana is the Secretary to the Government of Akpabio, while
Bassey Albert Akpan is the Commissioner for Finance. In public, these
two powerful men of Akpabio may appear as if they are cordial towards
one another, the every-day reality is that they are not in good terms.
While Umana Okon Umana’s ambition to succeed Akpabio is not a secret,
many in Akwa Ibom State may not know that Bassey Albert Akpan is
discretely and secretly campaigning to also succeed Akpabio. In order
to impress Akpabio for support, both men are indulging in a serious
campaign of back-biting, back-stabbing, and, according to reliable
sources, the situation is so bad that both men are seriously posing
threats to each other.
Credible sources have confirmed that a few days ago, the tension
between Bassey Albert Akpan and Umana Okon Umana almost resulted in a
fist-fight. Trouble began when Bassey Albert made a recommendation to
Akpabio that Obong Victor Attah should be paid his entitlement as a
former governor of the state; he has not been paid since he left the
office for Akpabio. But Umana Okon Umana objected and vehemently
opposed to the recommendations of Bassey Akpan; probably to impress
Akpabio on how much he hates Obong Attah—a fellow Ibibio man.
Sources say in a note sent to Akpabio by Umana in support of his
reasoning for opposing the payment of entitlement to Obong Attah,
Umana also recommended that Bassey Akpan should be asked to tender his
resignation. Bassey Akpan was infuriated and decided to confront Umana
in person. Those close to the situation have confirmed that if the
aides on both sides were not present at the time Bassey went to
confront Umana, it is very likely that a fist-fight might have ensued,
which could have resulted in any one of them loosing his life.
Sources say in I dare-you-to-get-rid-of-me attitude, Bassey Albert
Akpan wrote his resignation letter and forwarded it to Akpabio, who
has since moved his State Capital from Uyo to Abuja.
When the news of the resignation reached Akpabio, before he even had
the chance to receive the letter of resignation from Bassey Albert,
sources say Akpabio contacted some trusted members of his inner
cabinet to discuss the matter. He was advised to reject the
resignation letter outright.
One of the sources, who is very close to Akpabio said; “Akpabio may be
an evil man but the man is not stupid. He knows that he would be
constructing his own coffin if Bassey Albert Akpan resigns from his
administration. Other than Umana Okon Umana, only Bassey Albert Akpan
knows every kobo of the people’s money that Akpabio has stolen, how he
steals the money, and where he hides the money. Now, tell me how any
man would be stupid enough to mess with another man who knows so much
about his illegal activities? I don’t know why Umana Okon Umana wants
to mess with Bassey Albert Akpan when he knows that he (Bassey) has
all the information enough to implicate him and seal his anus with
wax.”
Written by
Ikpafak Thompson Essien
Portland, Oregon
