Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, is rapidly losing his cool as days draw near for a likely removal by the Court of Appeal. He has less than two months to continue masquerading as state administrator, so he is reportedly running from pillar to post, seeking ways to evade the inevitable.
After failing in his bid to personally win the President Mohammed Buhari to his side during brief accounters, the governor resorted to visiting past presidents like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to beg PMB on his behalf.
When this also failed, Udom went cap in hand to his employer, Mr. Jim Ovia and other notable bussiness magnates like Alhaji Aliko Dangote to put in a good word on his behalf to Mr. President. Unfortunately, this move also failed as Udom scolded to face his troubles alone and leave business men alone.
“Dangote specifically told him that he is not a politician and cannot descend into murky water of politics with him”, our source disclosed.
Realizing that he has exhausted all options couple with the fact that his aides has drained the last N11billion, borrowed ostensibly to invest in Agriculture, in seeking favourable judgment from governorship election tribunal, Udom has fallen back on clergymen in the state and beyond, bearing gifts.
Information reaching The Guide has it that the meeting was allegedly held at Le Meridien Hotels and Resort, Nwaniba some days ago with Bishop Cletus Bassey, Uma Ukpai and other ministers across the country in attendance.
Also present the state PDP hierachy led by its state chairman, Mr. Paul Ekpo as well as members of Udom’s cabinet.
“Udom had allegedly prevailed on the clerics to intervene on his behalf that there should not be any rerun election in Akwa Ibom State. But, they should pray to God for the court to uphold his election”.
He was then surrounded by the priests who laid their hands on his head and prayed.
It was gathered that later the clerics were rewarded handsomely for their intercession.
However, an aide to the state CAN Chairman, denied his involvement, noting that Bishop Cletus Bassey is not the one coordinating the Udom Emmanuel prayer for Appeal court but Bishop Emma Isong.
He further disclosed that although an invitation card bearing the theme of the prayer summit as “This fire will not quench”, was actually sent to Bishop Cletus, he could not attend the session because he had travelled out of the State.
It could by recalled that clergymen in the state, who never raised a word of caution against wanton politically motivated killings, pre-election violence, massive rigging of electoral process that produced Udom Emmanuel as ‘governor’ are today drumming support for him despite his rogue emergence.
Source: THE GUIDE NEWSPAPER
