Umana booed at funeral, abandons condolence address

An attempt for a fanfare by April 11 governorship candidate of the Akwa Ibom State APC Mr. Umana Umana backfired on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Akpautong in Esit Eket local government area where he had gone to take part in the burial ceremony of Elder Sunday Eyiboh, father of former federal lawmaker Hon Eseme Eyiboh.

The event turned an unfortunate outing for the embattled Umana Umana who suddenly left the venue with his supporters numbering about 30, without reading his condolences, despite persuasions and insistence by the chief mourner.

Trouble started when the church leaders and other stakeholders in their testimonies, repeatedly eulogized the late Sunday Edohouqua Eyiboh as an intelligent politician who was able to advise the people rightly to support the PDP –led government in the State to the applause all who were present.

It was also noticed that the booing by the crowd on the mention of Mr Umana’s name at the occasion was in sharp contrast to the cheers and heavy applause that came when the names of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Senator Effiong Bob, Elder Benji Udobia, Chief Nduese Essien and other PDP stalwarts in the state.

However the arrival of the state chairman of PDP Obong Paul Ekpo, accompanied by the Secretary Barr Ibanga Akpabio, received a standing ovation from completely excited crowd and the brass band spontaneously sounded the popular ‘kini Abasi anamde nkpo ntiense odu’ track that has been the signature tune of the State PDP boss.

Mr Paul Ekpo had hardly sat down than Umana and his entourage left the arena in disarray, while Eseme Eyiboh and other family members made fruitless attempts to persuade Umana Umana to stay and read his condolence message since he had already registered it.

But Umana who thought the humiliation was rather too much, especially after the earlier drubbing and attack on his image on a local radio by fellow APC partyman Senator Udoedehe, hurried out of the event which was conducted by Qua Iboe Church, Akpautong in Esit Eket.

In his message Governor Udom Emmanuel through his permanent secretary Pastor Umo Bassey, lauded the late septuagenarian for an exemplary life of service, and expressed the satisfaction that his son Hon Eseme Eyiboh had effectively contributed to the development of the country and state in different capacities.

Condolences were received at the occasion by the State PDP chairman, the Chief of Naval Staff, and sociopolitical and cultural organizations.

It was gathered that Umana had foresaw a situation where people may have ridiculed him the more if he had decided to go ahead to present his speech.

“Most the people there see him as an unnecessary distraction to the government and are bitter with the spoiler game he is playing,” Bassey Edoho, a secondary school teacher told our reporter after the funeral ceremony.

He added, “you see, Governor Emanuel is constructing the Eket -Ibeno road, and is pursuing a petro -chemical industry and a 1000 unit housing estate in our locality, making him a very lovable governor by our people.”

By Inibehe Udosen

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