TheHILL | POLITICS | DECEMBER 26
To say the choice of a successor for Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State in 2023 is going to be a big fight between the former banker and members of his cabinet is an understatement.
Already, his Finance Commissioner, Mr Linus Nkan, has publicly declared that Emmanuel’s successor must come from his (Nkan) local government area.
Mr. Nkan, 53, from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, is a former banker like his boss the governor. He worked at Zenith Bank as the Assistant General Manager/zonal head, Akwa Ibom, supervising six branches and four cash offices between 2014 and 2015 before he became the State Accountant General and was later appointed as Commissioner for Finance by Mr Udom Emmanuel.
Speaking Sunday at a well attended 18th Ibesikpo Asutan Political Convention, thanksgiving and 6th Constituency Briefing/Empowerment by Rt. Hon. (Elder) Aniekan Uko, Member Representing Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Commissioner reasoned that if Governor Emmanuel’s local government area; ONNA, could produce two governors, then, an Ibesikpo Asutan man should also warm up to take over from the incumbent governor in 2023.
“Listen, listen! What happened in ONNA?” he asked rhetorically, adding, “In ONNA, Dr. Clement Isong, who was the governor hailed from ONNA. Some years later, another governor emerged from same local government area (ONNA) in the person of Udom Emmanuel. So, who is that person that would say Ibesikpo Asutan cannot produce another governor after producing former governor Victor Attah,” TheHILL quoted the Commissioner who was speaking to his people in his native Ibibio language.
He went on to explain that as far as the State’s top job in 2023 was concerned, “anyone who is not royalty, but forces himself to the throne can die.”
Mr. Nkan concluded that Ibesikpo Asutan was a line of hereditary leaders and governors of the State having produced people who fought for the creation of Akwa Ibom. He mentioned the late Obong Effiong O. Eyo popularly known as ‘Eyo Uyo’ and ex governor, Obong Victor Attah as leaders produced by the area who made the State and Country proud.
“Our people say, the King should come from where a former king hailed from. If anybody argues that Obong Attah was the Governor of the State from Ibesikpo Asutan, tell him it is not true. It means Ibesikpo Asutan gave to Akwa Ibom people a governor, therefore another Governor of the State must come from Ibesikpo Asutan,” he stated while receiving a reverberating applause from the crowd.
However, the Akwa Ibom governor has been expressing concerns that a good number of people in the State are thinking about the next election without considering the next generation, calling on leaders to de-emphasize succession matters and support his administration with fervent prayers.
While he was still keeping close to his chest his likely successor, pundits say his Commissioner for Finance’s eyes have been focused on the governorship seat of the oil rich state in 2023.
With his recent stance on zoning of the forthcoming governorship to his local government area, one could rightly conclude that, Mr. Nsikan Linus Nkan was ready to do everything to actualize his political dream.
