The immediate past Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Obong Umana Okon Umana, has vowed to actualise his ambition of becoming the next governor of Akwa Ibom State in the 2015 election.
Umana made the declaration in Oron during his first major public appearance since his ouster from office, where he attended the burial ceremony of his former campaign coordinator, Mr Alfred Iyokakwa.
The former SSG, who stormed the venue of the burial with two truckload of mobile policemen and in company of prominent politicians of Oron extraction including Rt. Hon. Nelson Effiong, former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Chief (Barrister) Victor Iyanam, former Attorney-General of the state and Hon. Effiong Okwong, an impeached former Chairman of Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government, took time out to address his supporters, thanking them for their loyalty and supports in the aftermath of his resignation.
According to a source who attended the event, Umana vowed that only death could prevent him from realising his ambition of becoming the governor of Akwa Ibom State. He also advised his supporters not to lose hope in the course of the battle ahead as a better future awaits them upon his eventual victory.
In his response to Obong Umana’s address, Rt. Hon. Nelson Effiong, who spoke on behalf of the group pledged the supports of his people in ensuring that Umana was voted in as governor. According to the former speaker, Oron people could stand to gain more in Umana’s administration. He therefore enjoined the gathering to work towards Umana’s success at the poll.
It would be recalled that Obong Umana Okon Umana resigned his position as the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government recently, following his open declaration of intention to run for the office of governor. The state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has since appointed Mr. Emmanuel Gabriel Udom as the new Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government.