The former Chief of Staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen mocked his estranged boss and kinsman but ‘remembered’ his in-laws at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally.
Though both hail from Onna, Inyang-eyen was sacked over his comments deemed ‘disparaging’ to the governor that he was a supervisor in the Ministry of Works while the Governor was the Chairman of Finance and General Purposes Committee (FGPC) that awarded the ongoing Onna-Ikwe Road.
In a trending video, the outgone state Commissioner for Works rendered a comical song in Ibibio dialect Afo edi Udom, anam nkpo nte ufien, aben ubok afo asio Umo Eno ofuri owo efenge meaning You are Mr. Right, but you behave like a left-handed person. You have singlehandedly picked Umo Eno as your preferred choice and this has scared away your supporters.
His song laced with comic reliefs drew thunderous applause and hilarious laughter from the PDP members and many onlookers at the rally venue.
Read also: Chief of Staff to Akwa Ibom Governor, Ephraim Inyang-eyen, sacked
Recall that Inyang-eyen who has adopted the song as an anthem recently rendered it at Awa Iman, headquarters of Onna Local Government Area when OBA visited the area to consult PDP delegates in the area.
Speaking earlier at Urua Inyang, headquarters of Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom during consultation by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship aspirant to woo delegates in the area, he had carpeted the governor over what he called poor performance in office.
Wearing Kaftan with a bowler cap to match, Inyang-eyen who had earlier canvassed support for Senator Akpan popularly known as OBA ended abruptly by echoing in Annang dialect Ika mma, Nnung Uko mma meaning Ika I greet, my in-laws, I greet you too.
Incidentally, his wife, Ime comes from Oruk Anam, one of the Annang speaking local government areas in the state, while Inyang-eyen hails from Onna, one of the Ibibio speaking local government areas.
However, the ‘in-laws’ appellation attracted some adverse comments from the bystanders.
Specifically, one Ekarika Udoh from Oruk Anam was surprised that Inyang-eyen who served as Commissioner for Works for six years did not ‘remember’ his in-laws but ‘remembered’ them at Ika political rally.
According to him, Inyang-eyen never thought it wise to repair Ikot Ebak-Ibesit Road leading to his wife’s village, noting ”The road is impassable. I wonder how he accesses the road to his in-laws’ place.”
”Let me not mention other roads in the area that are still under construction but rendered impassable as a result of the socalled government construction for years now,’’ he said.
Governor Emmanuel who attended a funeral service in the area was castigated by Rev. David Udoudom of Qua Iboe Church for poor road network and apportioned blame on the governor who is also an in-law in Oruk Anam.
In a sharp reaction, Governor blamed his ‘in-laws’ for allegedly kidnapping contractors handling the project causing them to have fled and abandoned the road project.
Meanwhile, Rev. Richard Peters, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, has hit Inyang-eyen over his song in the video.
Headlining it: Like Ephraim Inyang, like Judas Iscariot, Peters wrote ”I have come across a video of Ephraim Inyangeyen, the sacked Chief of Staff to the governor, ridiculing the governor in a very despicable manner, undeserving of a leader of his standing. That was during a recent consultation by OBA and his team to Ika LGA.
What would have been a platform to market his principal’s candidacy turned out to be an executive comedy by a man who has fallen from grace.
”Ephraim Inyang sang a song vilifying the governor, his boss and benefactor, a man who gave him everything.
No wonder the Bible records that the heart is desperately wicked, who can tame it? The question on the lips of people is still the same that Caesar asked his cousin, Brutus: Et tu Brute? Even you, Ephraim Inyangeyen?
According to him, ”This is Ephraim Inyangeyen that prior to 2015, he was not known. The only thing that he was known for is that he was a sacked custom officer.
A man (Gov. Udom) saw a brother in him, and sought to give him a lift in life by remoulding his character, to see if he could be useful to society.
”He used the name to acquire wealth, bought property within and outside the state. He used the name to become so influential, but this is the same man that has turned against the governor, his benefactor. Ephraim has bitten the fingers that fed him.
”For a grown-up man who had before now sat with Kings in the palace to reduce himself to a village comedian is not only embarrassing, but smacks of foolishness.”
He used his hands to remove the crown the governor gave him, and he is now dining and wining with dogs and pigs. Who did this to Ephraim?
If Ephraim Inyang could betray his brother, kinsman and benefactor, who is OBA that Ephraim Inyang will not betray? It is a matter of time.
Betrayal is enshrined in his blood. He can continue to dance naked in the public, but the end will tell,” he added.
