The formal defection of the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Pastor Umo Eno from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally come and gone, but the effects and consequences will dominate political discussions and debates in the state for a long while.

While some political actors, particularly those who defected with the Governor, see the development as a bold step in the right direction, others see it as a decorated betrayal.

A ward leader from Uyo Senatorial district and a vocal member of the Forum of PDP ward leaders, Otuekong Ubong Ndah, while reacting to questions from our correspondent, said Governor Umo Eno has carried and dumped them in the middle of the river and swam happily out alone.

“We mobilized support in our wards for his election against all odds, with a promise that we will be integrated into the government, either as commissioners, board members or local government care takers or chairmen.

But the Governor sidelined us after election. Till today that he is defecting, he has never called us to appreciate us for a job we all did, and now that he has defected to the APC, there’s no hope of compensating us again.

He said he is defecting in the interest of the state, but I can tell you it’s for his personal interest.

“Even in the PDP, he could not compensate us for the successful work we did for him. What is the possiblity that our interests will be protected in the APC,” he asked.

Some believe the Governor will lose grip of the state with Akpabio as the leader. They expressed fears that Senator Godswill Akpabio may exert undue influence and reduce the governor to a ceremonial head.

Others fear that the Governor could be denied the ticket when the chips are down. This school of thought believe that Umo Eno might suffer a related fate that robbed a former Deputy Governor, Obong Nsima and Akaninyene Udofia the chances to govern the state in 2019 and 2023 respectively.

Yet another School of thought maintain that the governor’s defection will ignite crises as a result of conflict of interests within the new APC, particularly during the build up to the next elections.

Defection will stimulate growth – Iniobong

However, in his reaction, Director General of Akwa Ibom State APC Media Network and former Chairman, APC Youth Caucus, Otuekong Iniobong John described the defection of Governor Umo Eno as the beginning of the golden era of Akwa Ibom politics.

According to him, the historic development will stimulate rapid development and attract more democratic dividends to the state.

He congratulated the Governor for the bold step and noted that his alignment with the APC will change the economic and political fortune of the state.

On the submission that all members of the Federal and state legislatures, who defected with the governor, will, after a spree of oily consultations, have automatic tickets for their second terms, he said Governor Umo Eno has attracted the admiration of the APC by superior performance, political liberalism and inclusive governance, even before his defection, an achievement that has earned him automatic ticket for a second term.

Automatic ticket

“…Apart from the Governor, I don’t know whether the state APC has automatic tickets for new members” he said.

Also speaking, Akwa Ibom State Chairman of The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, ESV, Kufre Ufot, said the development signals an impending era of increased federal appointments and presence.

“We hope the political alignment will generate tangible infrastructural renaissance. We expect to see the fruition of the Ibom Deep Seaport, the upgrade of the Nigerian Maritime Academy to a full-fledged University, and the completion of the Ikot Ekpene-Aba, Calabar-Itu roads, which have suffered neglect for decades.”

He advised Akwa Ibom people to look beyond political party name, to the larger picture of governance.

On the survival of the battered PDP, he Consoled depressed members and advised them to pick the broken pieces and take decisive decisions that can resolve the lingering issues, bedeviling the party, and present the PDP as a credible alternative to the Nigerian masses. (BusinessDay)