PRESS STATEMENT BY ASSOCIATION OF EKET SENATORIAL DISTRICT MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ON EPHRAIM INYANG-EYEN’S MACABRE DANCE AND HIS ENDLESS COMICAL THEATRICS OVER 2023 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS IN AKWA IBOM STATE

There's no doubt that our political landscape is filled with all manners of persons, including actors and comedians of clownish hue. Currently in Akwa Ibom State, one of those who have emerged hilarious entertainers wearing the garb of politics is Akparawa Ephraim Inyang- eyen, the sacked Chief of Staff to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The latest stage for the performance of his comical craft was Eket, last Saturday, where he displayed his characteristic verbal recklessness and clownish gestures before an audience he rented to prove his political relevance to his friend, Senator Bassey Albert. It's understandable that Akparawa Ephraim Inyang -eyen wants to prove a point after being declared surplus to requirements and given the boot by the Governor.

Ordinarily, we in Association of Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals would have ignored his amusing theatrics but we have a duty to ensure that not even one Akwa Ibom citizen who may not understand the personality of Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen or his craft is misled into giving serious attention to hilarious displays.

The theme of his latest outburst was the need for Akwa Ibom State to reward Senator Bassey Albert's purported sacrifices for the State with the Governorship seat. It couldn't have been more ridiculous and condescending than this. Exactly what sacrifices was the erstwhile Chief of Staff talking about? Between Akwa Ibom State and Senator Bassey Albert, who is indebted to who? This was a young banker without a record of prior political experience, participation and investments who was favoured ahead of numerous more experienced persons by the then Governor, Senator(Dr.) Godswill Akpabio with the juicy position of Commissioner for Finance in 2007. In about seven years of serving as Commissioner, he had amassed so much wealth and became so undeservingly powerful that in 2014, he could hold his boss and benefactor, Chief Godswill Akpabio in the jugular in pursuit of a misguided gubernatorial aspiration against the existing zoning/rotation arrangement in the State.

Ephraim Inyang-eyen should be reminded that Senator Bassey Albert couldn't have stepped down for Governor Udom Emmanuel in a race he was ab initio unqualified to participate in, on account of the zoning/rotation arrangement of the State.

His argument is akin to asking an owner to reward a thief who attempted to forcefully dispossess him of his property. Where is that done? It's noteworthy that while Senator Bassey Albert was on a dangerous voyage to upset the apple cart in 2014, there were people who stood firmly with the Governor to ensure it never happened. Between him who was stopped from messing the zoning arrangement of the State and those who stood solidly behind the then Governor to stop him, who deserve(s) a reward?

It is laughable that Inyang-eyen has the temerity to advocate compensation or reward for a man who should, in a normal circumstance be reprimanded for being contemptuous of the State in 2014 and greedy against of Uyo Federal Constituency in 2019. Incidentally, for contemptuously and immorally threatening to disrupt the zoning arrangement which helps to unite the State, the leadership of the Party was arm twisted to sacrifice Senator Ita Enang’s second term for him. His inordinate bid for, and successful reelection in 2019 disrupted the rotation of the Uyo Senatorial District seat, the major cause of the problems in that District ahead of the upcoming elections.

There's no doubt that Senator Bassey Albert has benefitted serially and enormously from the game of brinkmanship, rebellion and breach of agreement.In other words, his compensation for withdrawing from the illicit gubernatorial race in 2014 was the undeserved Senatorial Seat he still occupies. We all know the controversies and avoidable litigations which trailed the late decision to assuage one man's greed for power in 2014. For supporting the Governor and the Party in 2019, he was unduly rewarded with re-election when his federal constituency had completed its second term in the Senate.

Needless to say that if Senator Bassey Albert had jumped ship like the other two Senators, he would also have drowned with them. Keeping faith with the Party was in his interest as he's still a serving Senator while the other two are former Senators. Is that not enough compensation?

It's preposterous to argue that Senator Bassey Albert should be compensated with the governorship seat for supporting the Governor in 2019. Who among the gubernatorial aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) didn't support the Governor? Ephraim Inyang-eyen even sounded more ridiculously comical when he told his hired audience that they need a Governor who has relationship with the people of Eket Senatorial District. Between Pastor Umo Eno who has been living and investing in Eket Senatorial District in the past thirty years and Senator Bassey Albert who neither lives nor invests in the area, who can be said to have a relationship with them?

Or need we remind him that Pastor Umo Eno is an inlaw in Eket Senatorial District, with his lovely wife from Mkpat Enin? Pastor Umo Eno is a highly successful entrepreneur who has invested massively in the State and created several direct and indirect jobs for the people.

Which contribution is more valuable than job creation? Who knows and remembers people as someone who has been putting food on their tables by offering them jobs from his sweat?It's unfortunate that Ephraim Inyang- eyen sees governance from the narrow and unproductive prism of endless amassment of wealth by the functionaries wherein they occasionally drop crumbs for the people. But the Umo Eno philosophy is to empower our youths and women to be self-reliant, not perpetual dependants on handouts and tokunbo vehicles from politicians.If indeed, God has revealed to Akparawa Ephraim Inyang- eyen that his co-traveller, Senator Bassey Albert will be the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State, why then is he sounding so frustrated with mere human beings who have withheld their support from him?

Of course, every right thinking person knows the claim of divine revelation is part of Mr Inyang Eyen's comical theatrics and thoughtless outbursts. In any case, Senator Albert's characteristic chants of "Who born dog" and veiled threats at the event represents an early vindication of the decision of His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel and other well meaning stakeholders to raise the governorship of the State beyond the pedestrian level of "anything goes". That wisdom located Pastor Umo Eno, a gentleman par excellence and a man of decency, discipline, industry, truth, knowledge and humility.

Considering his antecedence, achievements, experience, training, values, calling and disposition, Pastor Umo Eno's governorship will guarantee Akwa Ibom State peace, stability and prosperity. No sensible State will sacrifice that for another potential drift into an orgy of violence, squander-mania, circus show and waste of public funds in the name of governance. The remarkable gains recorded by the present administration cannot be left to ruin by a return to the Egyptian era when we slept with one eye open.Akwa Ibom State owes Senator Bassey Albert nothing more after making him the wealthiest Commissioner in its history and a two term Senator. He has already taken more than his fair share and should be grateful for it.

Signed

Comrade Jerry Edoho
Secretary

For: The Leadership and MembersAssociation of Eket Senatorial District Media ProfessionalsMarch 7, 2022

My people has started world press conference?

rottennaija:
My people has started world press conference?

Rochas Okorocha has taught them how to make political declaration a world affairs.

My people , my people

MadamExcellency:


Rochas Okorocha has taught them how to make political declaration a world affairs.

I think ambode started it