Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, has broken his silence concerning his aspiration to contest the 2015 governorship position in the state. His declaration got immediate endorsement by the Akwa Ibom Professional Forum (AIPROF), South West Zone, which called on Akwa Ibom indigenes home and abroad to rally round him ambition.

Umana made his intention to vie for the highest office public in the state while answering questions from newsmen in Uyo today. He had been asked to comment on his reported withdrawal from the race due to his nomination by the state government for the position of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Umana said it had become important to make known his position to assuage the overwhelming wish of the greater majority of Akwa Ibom people who have for a long time pressured him to run for the office of governor.

“I have decided to make public my intention to run for the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State in response to the overwhelming pressure from the good people of the three senatorial districts of the state for me to declare my interest in the race. I wish to assure our people that I will run for the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State come 2015,” the SSG said.

Asked why it took him so long to officially make a pronouncement on the matter, Umana said: “I had to consult widely on the issue. I was also mindful of the fact that I had a job to perform, which I needed to give my all. But as you can see, 2015 is just by the corner and I have to begin the normal consultations, while waiting for the official flag off of campaigns by my party to go into full campaigns.”

He called on the people of the state to continue in their steadfast support for the Governor Godswill Akpabio administration, adding that the administration will continue to justify the enormous confidence the people have continued to repose in it.

Umana said that governor Akpabio has proved that good leadership was possible by the standard of leadership he has so far displayed, calling on the people to ensure that the interest of the state remains paramount even as they scout for who succeeds the governor in 2015.

Throwing its weight behind the SSG, AIPROF South West Zone said in a release signed by its president, Pastor Godspower Francis: “We receive with great joy and relief the acceptance by our son, Umana Umana, to hearken to the wishes of the generality of our people to vie for the office of the governor of our state in 2015, in order to continue with the scintillating job he incumbent governor is doing. We hereby call on our people, home and abroad to rally round Umana for the continued development of the state beyond 2015.”

•Photo shows governorship hopeful Umana Umana.