By Osondu Ahirika
The Honourable Commissioner for Works, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen is on the cross. The crucify him mob is getting noisier, and are lobbying for more support. This will be my second epistle, on why they are all out to cut Ephraim Inyang down by all means.
Actually, I do not envy this man, whose straightforward, honest and open door approach is deemed politically incorrect by his foes. Who are those against Ephraim inyang? Why is there a budding and systematic media assault on his reputation? Who are those behind the unfolding press lynching of Mr Inyangeyen? Here is a background.
ON January 15, 2016, Nigeria experienced her first Military Coup de'tat. In his speech justifying why they struck, Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu said in his second paragraph,
"Our enemies are the political
profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribe demand 10 percent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can
remain in office as ministers or VIPs at
least, the tribalists, the nepotists,
those that make the country look big
for nothing before international circles,
those that have corrupted our society
and put the Nigerian political calendar
back by their words and deeds"
.Folks', I may not agree with the aberration of coups, but, Nzeogwu did make a point which still stares us on the face.
Akwa Ibom State is a microcosm of that Nigeria bemoaned in his coup speech excerpt.
Ephraim Inyang is made the fall guy because, he will not compromise and lend his weight to the business as usual choristers. Let's expose those who want him out and shame their reasons.
1.0: Political profiteers, Recall when His Excellency Mr Udom Emmanuel was running for office. His aspiration met its biggest bluff from politicians. They loathed him and labeled him a stranger in the terrain. 'He isn't a politician and was brought from Lagos,' they raged. There was a genuine sense of frustration in their protest.
They knew, if he wins, then he will not play the games Politicians play with the peoples treasury. While they distanced themselves from him and formed groups and pseudonyms to resist his emergence, Ephraim Inyangeyen mobilized support for the Udom is Right Project, he threw in everything and spared no sacrifice. A soul search by those who went as far as defecting to other parties, but now castigate Inyangeyen will self-indict them.
Fact is, even in that era, only a few Commissioners and Politicians were ready to swim or sink with Mr Udom Emmanuel. They stood by him through it all. Now, those politicians who are used to eating the Lion share, even when they did not participate in the hunt are furious. They want to assert their accustomed 'grab all' mentality, and behold, the system cannot be rigged for them to continue their political profiteering. Someone must pay for their loss. That's where Ephraim Inyang is their target.
As we all know, a Chain is as strong as its weakest link. In this administration, Inyangeyen, whose Transformation Initiative for the Empowerment of Ibom People, TIEP, partnered Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance, ACA, and its champions to produce Governor Emmanuel is well known as the most dependable base of the administration.
I make bold to say that, the few men who staked all for the Udom is Right project in those days of turbulence in the Akpabio cabinet were: Mr Akan Okon, Deacon Aniekan Umanah, Prince Enobong Uwah, Dr. Glory Edet, Prince Godwin Ntukude and Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem.
On the outside, one can't forget the vanguard labour of Ephraim inyang, Elder Udobia, Rt. Hon. Essien Ndueso, Senator Effiong Bob, Senator Anietie Okon and Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga rtd. I recall, these latter class, were lampooned as 'Fake Elders of Akwa ibom State', after they issued communiques of solidarity for Udom Emmanuel's candidature.
So, the politicians who didn't believe in the project gun for Ephraim's jugular and want him down. The people must be aware, that, those few politicians, who nurse a sense of entitlement to the resources and wealth of the state are supercharged and spoiling for war. The masses must not become willing tools in their self war against Ephraim Inyang.
1.1: The swindlers: These are men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent of everything. In Local Government Areas, Ministries, Parastatals and Government Departments and Agencies, they have vested interest. Once the allocation of Local Governments or Ministries come, they demand patronage and 10%. Share the money is their usual order.
The swindlers are those who go by the dubious appellation of, 'Godfather', 'Stakeholder', 'Political Elder', 'Middle men' etc. They live by peddling influence and dropping the name of or
boast having the ears of the Governor. They threaten fire and brimstone if their greed is not indulged and their worthless ego massaged. This has continued for too long. In this administration, the title of 'king of the Boys', 'Godfather' and 'Mr Fix it' have all been eclipsed by the new order. In the throes of the extinction of their sole proprietorship over affairs of Local Governments and Government agencies, they are fighting back. They can no longer single-handedly pick Caretaker Committees, Supervisory Councilors or be the sole determinants of who gets what as Executive Chairman, Secretary or Councillors in all Local Governments of the state .
Furthermore, these Godfathers act as middlemen and contractors. When they corner contracts they are not qualified or equipped to execute, they sublease the contract and extract hefty commissions and kickbacks. They run as fronts for multinationals firms, who feast on the lean treasury and repatriate their profits at the expense of sidelined local contractors. By this subletting syndrome, they swindle the society, not just in cash, but in quality of work which gets done at the end of the day. In worst case scenarios, the contracts are as a consequence, over inflated, or contract sum variated again and again, to accommodate their gluttony, or the contract ends up being abandoned. Again, Ephraim Inyang is seen as the one who is standing on their way to sustaining this reprobate culture. He must be taken out for them to rediscover their scheme.
1.3: Ministers or VIPs: Nzeogwu described them as, '' those that
seek to keep the country(read, state) divided permanently so that they can
remain in office.) There is this noise about, Ephraim inyang seeking to weed so-called 'Akpabio's men' out of power. By this tactics, people are divided based on where they stand and who they align with. But that is not the truth. Former Governor Akpabio used to say, "there is nothing like a permanent governor. Even a Permanent Secretary is not permanent." At some point, he will leave the scene for others to take a turn. So we should not be deceived. When the Transition Committees were reconstituted on July 4, 2016, the line was, Akpabio's men have been sacked. Folks', we must change that mentality. No Minister or VIP should expect to remain in office for live. Or else, God is a liar. Change is the only constant in life and this is not Ephraim Inyang's doing. Its a natural course.
1.4: The tribalists and The nepotists: This brings me to the most sensitive matter for which Ephraim Inyang is facing torrents of blackmail. The alleged pulling down of the mud house of Chief Inokon Inokon to make way for a car park for Governor Emmanuel's country home located in Awa Iman village.
I must state how disappointed I am with people who fan the embers of nepotism. In the course of several tours of the Awa-Etinan Road project, Mkpok Okat road and others ongoing around the Governor's hometown of Onna, I heard a rather sickening refrain. 'When the Annang governor(Senator Akpabio) was in power, he paid exorbitant compensation's to his brothers to build mansions even where they had mud houses.
He turned Essien Udim Local Government to a big city and Ukana communities to an urban area. But this is Awa's turn and the governor is not doing the same. Ibibio imaha idem'.
Evidently, the people are comfortable with nepotism. They would prefer, the system is robbed to favour the incumbent governors people against the rest of the state.
But, Governor Emmanuel has preferred to steer a different path.
Integrity with finances has been his watchword. I can't even affirm the suppositions of favouritism leveled against the previous government is correct, as I don't have all the facts.
But truth is, I have had on the spot interface with beneficiaries in the current scenario. Overnight, people living on the stretch of these roads marked for construction erected makeshift shrines, installing carved deities and idols, for which they demanded settlement from Government before the roads are constructed.
Many others, planted tombstones and shanties on the shoulders of the road and right of ways, inciting mutiny, if they are not handsomely paid. It was a sickening sight, how people will deliberated vouch to obstruct much needed development.
If Ephraim inyang and his principal are induced to play the nepotist or tribal card, then, Awa claimants, will become billionaires, while the rest of the state suffers. Of course, the heavens will not fall if he accedes to their subterfuge. But, for the fact that, integrity in office must be maintained, and reinforced by the reality that, the revenue and wealth of the state is in severe constraints, Inyangeyen stood firm on the trench of probity and pleaded with his kith and kin to demonstrate faith in Government as an agency for good to the greatest number.
Why is that an offence? Why is his refusal to endorse illicit handouts, of fat pay cheques to his kinsmen a charge to pull him down? Shouldn't he rather be praised?
Some miscreants wanted to manipulate Chief Inokon inokon, whose mud house was affected in the demolition excercise to score cheap political points against Ephraim Inyangeyen. But the elderly man has come to terms with their game. They want to use him against his brother governor and he has shamed the purveyors of malice.
Through every nation and city state in the world, property, luxurious or not, often give way to development projects- especially, for roads, recreation facilities, railways and social or economic amenities. Chief inokon's case was no exception.
Can we leave Ephraim inyang alone, now the man has debunked reports of being abused?
He may be blunt with the truth, that's what they call arrogance. He does not condone mediocrity, they call it pride. Ephraim Inyang will not play to the gallery, so they say he is to brash.
When he refuses to act father christmas with Government contracts, they turn his honesty to a crime.
When he implements strict accountability relating how evaluation and compensation for property that must give way for construction is administered, the call his guts, wickedness.
These are people who call evil, good and see good as evil won't go down without a fight. Their worst defeat is that, Inyangeyen won't betray Governor Emmanuel. He is 120 percent loyal.
So, they sold the trifle that, he plans to run against the Governor in 2019 and it didn't fly. They shout that, he has hijacked the Governor. That again is dead on arrival and they are confused on the next line.
At some point, I used to think Ephraim Inyangeyen was the problem. Now, I know better. They did it to Bishop Samuel Akpan of the Akwa Ibom Peoples Front, AKPF, fame. They ruined him and kicked him out. From that moment, they had unfettered access to manipulating the system the way they pleased. This time, there is bad news. It won't work.
Being human, Inyaneyen is not infallible and does have his frailties. We all do have our shortcomings and so should stone another dead for his flaws. But, in his public service and inputs in the administration, my plea to opponents is simple. Leave Ephraim Inyangeyen alone.
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