A'Ibom 2015 Governorship Quest Tears Brothers Apart

What could make two brothers of the same parentage trade accusations over plot to kill each other over governorship ambition? Why would two blood brothers eye the governorship seat and refuse to reach a consensus but resort to a do-or-die politics? Could it be because of money, power, fame or a combination of the three?

Well, former Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State, Bassey Albert and his elder brother, Ime, can provide appropriate answers to these questions, as the two of them, hell-bent on succeeding Governor Godswill Akpabio as governor of the state, appear determined to stop at nothing, including dragging their family name in the mud, in their pursuit of the Number One seat in the state.

Findings revealed that the two brothers of Uyo extraction, are presently aiming for each other's jugular as a result of their alleged greedy ambition, with none of them ready to concede to the other in the governorship race.

It will be recalled that Bassey, who was fired by Akpabio shortly after Easter this year, had declared his governorship ambition, while his blood brother, Ime, had also never hidden his desire to govern the Land of Promise, as Akwa Ibom is widely-known, a development that has pitched the two brothers against each other.

It was however, gathered that the battle for the governorship seat took a messier twist last week, as the two brothers jettisoned their filial ties to engage in a battle of attrition, which political observers in the state have described as “degrading, disgraceful and overtly uncultured.”

According to investigations, the trouble started last week with Ime's invitation to 'prayer warriors' to pray over his governorship ambition, with the 'prayer warriors' as part of the 'prayers' deciding to scoop some sand from Bassey's house, while he was away.

An eyewitness allegedly informed Bassey of the act, which drew his ire and led to his allegedly sending some people believed to be cultists after his elder brother's 'prayer warriors,' insisting that they were ritualists employed by his brother to kill him over the governorship ambition.

Investigations revealed that the 'prayer warriors' were beaten blue black by Bassey's boys, leading to his brother crying blue murder and reporting to the police, who arrested everyone involved for investigations.

Bassey reportedly accused his brother of plot to get rid of him through rituals as evident in the action of the 'pastors and prayer warriors' who took sand from his house but Ime was said to have called on his brother to ensure the release of the 'pastors', alleging that he [Bassey]was responsible for the death of his [Ime's] second child to actualise his governorship ambition and was not qualified to accuse anyone of ritualism.

A close family source, who spoke on a condition of anonymity because of his closeness to the duo, accused Bassey of being unreasonable in handling the issue, noting that Ime practically raised him. But the source was quick to add that Bassey was always in the habit of fighting and biting the fingers that fed him, as he had done the same to Akpabio, who solely made him into what he became politically.

Residents of the state who spoke with our reporter berated the Albert brothers over their failure to reach a consensus on their ambition, saying that their resort to dirty politics demonstrated that they were both incapable of governing the state.

James Inyang, an architect based in Uyo, who said he was aware of the story, said: “As brothers, there is nothing wrong in both of them aspiring. But if they really mean well for the state, one of them should have conceded and support the other with his vision and ideas. This shameful act by the Alberts show that they are desperate and deadly and cannot rule the state.”

Another resident, Chief Iniobong James, jovially said the two brothers were already conducting a primary in their house, saying he hoped one of them does not kill the other to become governor. “Seriously, when I heard of the case, I was surprised. They are both being childish and I only pity the people of the state if these are the kinds of leaders hoping to govern us,” he said.

Some traditional rulers and family heads in Ibiono Ibom, where the duo hail from, are worried that the dirty image being exhibited could replicate another "Cain and Abel" episode, and have made frantic moves to stop them, especially since the PDP where both belong had already ruled that the next governor of the state should emerge from Eket and not Uyo senatorial district, where the two come from.

It could be recalled that in 2011, when Ime Albert had attempted to emerge a senator in the state, Bassey had thrown his support to Ita Enang, boasting to his brother that two cocks can never crow under the same roof.

It is not the first time two brothers are fighting nasty for the soul of the state leadership, as Don Etiebet, his Sister's son Samuel Akpan(Akrosamic), and his brother's son Aniekan Etiebet had contested for the governorship seat in 2007, just as the son inlaw to the then Governor Attah, Dr Udoma Bob Ekarika and his elder brother Senator Itak Bob Ekarika struggled between themselves for the same position same year.

Bassey Ubokudom, Dignity Media, Uyo