How Donald Etiebet’s Ghost Chased Umana Umana

*Absconds  ceremony before arrival of late ex governor ‘s body 

The last may not have been heard of the mild drama involving the All Progressives Congress  Candidate, Mr Umana Umana [above] during the funeral of the former governor of old Cross River state, Senator Donald Etiebet. 

Umana had gone to the burial ground at Ikot Ekpuk in Oruk Anam with a full retinue of aides and supporters and promptly moved  on to take a seat at the VIP canopy, quite close to the senior state officials reserved seats. 

He was however rebuffed by the burial protocol team, and directed to sit with other failed politicians at the section that fits his current status as a disgruntled politician. 

This did not augur well with the former secretary to the state government who had allegedly planned with the brother to the deceased and APC chieftain Don Etiebet that Governor Udom and PDP chieftains should be relegated at the ceremony. 

While seated awaiting the arrival of the remains of the elder statesman , news filtered in that Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Bassey Albert have been confirmed victorious at the Appellate court, Umana was left in visible agony, and was seen making frantic calls to apparently confirm the development from the court. 

While everyone else at the funeral ground waited patiently for the casket bearing Etiebet remains to arrive, Umana stood up abruptly and left the venue with a stern look of a deflated ego. 

No official statement has since been issued by his media adviser Iboro Otongaran, but some observers sensed that Umana has always have a deep hatred for the annangs, and sees Akpabio an Annan man as the reason for his travails. 

However this view is strongly disputed by another section of analysts who reasoned that Umana does not have the mindset to face defeat and avoids being seen as a lower. 

It would be recalled that Umana had abandoned Hon Eseme Eyiboh father’s burial without reading his condolence message, even though he had announced his intention to read the message. 

Umana had stood up abruptly and left the burial ceremony in Esit Eket when PDP chairman Paul Ekpo arrived and the band started playing political tunes to herald his arrival.  

The remains of Senator Etiebet had earlier been received at the government house, Uyo where a special exco session was held in his honour. 

The ceremony attracted several former and serving government officials from Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

Inibehe Ita Udosen , Uruan, Akwa Ibom State

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook