A US-based social critic from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Thompson Essien, has sounded a note of warning to erstwhile Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Umana Umana, to shelve his governorship ambition as it is an unpopular decision.

Reacting to the recent thanksgiving service by Mr. Umana which became a political rally of a sort, Mr. Essien said that from his investigations, no true Akwa Ibom person wants Umana to succeed Chief Godswill Akpabio as governor in 2015.

“The truth,” he said, “is that no one, I repeat, no one in good earnest wants Umana Okon Umana to succeed Akpabio. The only ones who are making all the noises are those who are working very hard to receive money from Umana; nothing more and nothing less.”

Mr. Essien, who supported the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria’s 2011 governorship candidate, Senator John Udoedehe, remarked that the sycophants surrounding Mr. Umana have deceived him into the illusion that he has a large pool of supporters.

“I have spoken to a cross-section of Akwa Ibom people, including the very ones who are always found in the parlor of Umana’s house. All of them have confided in me that they want his money,” he said.

Thompson Essien maintained that “the problem Umana Okon Umana is having is his stubborn refusal to listen to honest suggestions and his preference to listen to those who are deceiving him into believing that Akwa Ibom people want him as their next governor.”

The self-acclaimed voice of the oppressed re-iterated that “those who are honest with Umana Okon Umana, including me, have suggested to him that instead of succeeding Akpabio, he should take a break from politics.”

He lamented that Mr. Umana had a habit of avoiding those who are kind enough to offer him free and honest suggestions.

The Portland Oregon resident is of the opinion that with the stability in the state, and firm control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state by Governor Akpabio, it will be practically impossible for Umana’s governorship ambition to blossom.

He opined that “as long as Godswill Akpabio is still in control of Akwa Ibom State and as long as Akpabio is the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Umana Okon Umana will never be able to secure PDP nomination ticket; even a five year old child, who is curious about Akwa Ibom State politics can tell you this.”

•Photo shows governorship aspirant Umana Okon Umana.

Update news