BREAKING NEWS: NDDC MD SEAT: AKPABIO COMPELS NSIMA TO PICK VALERIE EBE AS SUCCESSOR

* DUMPS SAM FRANK
* NSIMA IS A TRAITOR - APC STALWART

The All Progressives Congress, APC in Akwa Ibom State, is immersed in another round of fresh crisis, following the overbearing influence of Senator Akpabio on virtually every decision of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, whom he has handpicked to replace the current Governor.

The latest crisis emanates from the last minutes decision of Senator Akpabio who ordered Nsima Ekere to dump the current Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom state on the Commission's Board, Mr. Sam Frank, who was initially selected as Nsima's potential replacement but go for the former deputy governor, HE, Barrister Valerie Ebe.

It was reliably gathered that the decision to shelve Sam Frank stemmed from Akpabio’s belief that the NDDC Commissioner is Obong Umana Umana's loyalist and as such may be gathering money for Umana Umana's Governorship in 2023.

Akpabio also revealed that, anybody that comes from either Umana Umana or Don Etiebet's camp should be treated with levity as he does not trust the duo in the party. The Senator also added that the NDDC job was part of his offer to Mma Ebe, while wooing her into APC.

However, in doing so, there is a brewing crisis within the APC camp on the grounds that Nsima has betrayed the trust of his key benefactor, Mr. Umana Okon Umana and humiliated Mr. Sam Frank, who was rumoured to be Nsima's successor based on an agreement between Umana and Nsima before the latter was recommended for the job.

Confirming the development, a chieftain of the party, who spoke off record to this reporter, expressed displeasure over the development. He disclosed that it was among many indications that the NDDC boss, if he succeeds becoming a Governor, will be the worst stooge of Akoabio's creation than Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“Honestly we are disappointed by Senator Akpabio’s overbearing influence on the party and personalities involved. He has not changed and we will do everything possible to resist him.

"As for Nsima, he has at various occasions shown this trait of not following through an agreement. No matter pressure from Akpabio, he should have kept to his promise. As you may already know, Nsima was recommended by Obong Umana Okon Umana for the NDDC job.
"He had agreed to hand over to anybody Umana would recommend, when he resigns to contest the governorship".

Our source further disclosed that there is no love lost between Nsima and Frank because as soon as he entered office, the NDDC boss flouted every agreement reached.

"Sam Frank is from Onna yet he stood firm with Umana despite attacks in his hometown. He even resigned his appointment as Special Assistant to the Governor in solidarity with Umana.

" Nsima was to work closely with Mr. Sam Frank to create employment opportunities for teeming APC youth, who toiled for the party and faced dire persecution in the trying period of former governor Akpabio.

"But, immediately he entered office, he sidelined Frank, frustrated Umana's effort to create employment for party youth, instead he began courting PDP youths with appointments and contracts".

Efforts to reached the Personal Assistant on Media to Mr. Nsima Ekere, Mr. Inemesit Inah, for comments were not successful as he neither picked calls nor reply SMS sent to his mobile phone.

Nevertheless, one of Nsima's aides who confided in this reporter, provided an insight into the choice of Barr. Ebe as his replacement.

He revealed that handing over to Ebe is strategic as his boss believes that Eket Federal Constituency has had their turn in serving the Commission therefore his successor should rightfully come from Ikot Abasi federal constituency.

It could be recalled that the Presidency extended the tenure of the Managing Director and the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) till 2020, in a move that sparked controversy across the country especially the Niger Delta States.

Culled From The Guide Newspaper

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