Former Chief of Staff to Akwa Ibom Governor, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-Eyen has warned people in the state to be wary of deceit by political office seekers during elections.
Inyang-eyen stated this on Saturday at a rally organized for the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Bassey Albert by youths of Eket Senatorial District.
Straightnews gathered that the veiled statement referred to his former boss whom he served as Commissioner for Works and Chief of Staff for more than six years, purportedly implying that he might have deceived Akwa Ibom people in not delivering the needed dividends of democracy.
This was as the Governor sacked him few weeks ago on the grounds of alleged incompetence and lack of skill shortly before the Governor picked his preferred successor, Pastor Umo Eno for the 2023 governorship bid.
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“Don’t allow anybody deceive you. I heard them saying they had revelation via iPad, revelation is not via iPad. God does not give one man revelation. The Bible says that in the mouth of three or four witnesses, truth is established. God has told me that OBA is the next governor,” the former Chief of Staff confessed.
During the Saturday’s event beamed live in Facebook, the former Commissioner openly declared support for Senator Bassey Albert Akpan popularly known as OBAas earlier published by Straightnews.
He said for stepping down for the incumbent governor to get the PDP ticket eight years ago and for standing by Udom again in 2019 when other serving Senators from Akwa Ibom had left him, OBA should be given the right of first refusal come 2023.
“I stand on this podium on the basis of truth. That what is good for the goose is good for the gander. In 2014, OBA was the central candidate who stepped down for our son and we gave a promise that when it is the turn of Uyo he will have the right of first refusal. It has come to Uyo, OBA should be given the right of first refusal. In 2019, our governor was deserted by the senators that we sent to Abuja.
”It was Senator OBA that stood with us. If a man would defend the state at moments of war, when “Warsaw saw war” and “war saw Warsaw,” it was only Senator OBA that stood with us to fight the war and we had victory. Let me ask a question, if someone stands with you to fight a war and you get victory, shouldn’t he be rewarded? Does OBA not deserve reward for standing with the governor to fight all the battles for our governor to win first term and win second term?
“I came here today to tell Eket Senatorial District, support who knows you by name so that the person can remember you. Do not accept strangers again because when they enter the house, they won’t remember you. Senator OBA shall remember people. All of us shall stand with Senator Bassey Albert. He is a giver; he is a lover of people.
“If anybody says he wants to be governor, that person must show past record of what he has done for the people. OBA has past record, Senator OBA has history, Senator OBA has something to show. Nobody should deceive people again. Whoever wants to run for election should come and run on his own.
“I want to tell Eket Senatorial District that we need a governor who has relationship with the people of Eket Senatorial District, so that he will eat and remain for us. I heard the women saying things are too hard, when OBA becomes Governor, things won’t be hard again.
“That Same God that told me to support my brother (Governor Udom Emmanuel), also told me to support you (OBA) that you are the next Governor of Akwa Ibom. These words remain irreversible because God ordered me to say so and it shall be established,” Inyang-eyen said.
The event was attended by Sir Emem Akpabio, a relative of former Governor Godswill Akpabio, and Bishop Andrew Uwanta who was the National Chairman of the defunct Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA), a group which in 2015 was the equivalent of Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), among others.
Gov Emmanuel regrets
Next day, Udom Emmanuel thanked God that he was not carried away by sentiments in entrusting some people with power.
In a video seen online by Straightnews, the governor was seen addressing some of his Onna kinsmen at Government House, Uyo on Sunday, March 6.
The governor who said this after his immediate past Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyang-eyen had levelled weighty allegations against him during his during solidarity speech for Senator Bassey Akpan to youths in Eket Senatorial District on Saturday.
The Senator popularly known as OBA was heard railing at the crowd, ”Take charge! Take charge! Who born dog! Who born dog!’’ in a live Facebook broadcast and video shared online.
Governor Emmanuel noted ”I thank God for these few months, I have seen the real character of people. At times, when I reach my office I kneel down and thank God that I did not go on men’s sentiment, I would have made a great mistake. Some of you would not have forgiven me.
”You do not know the heart of man. Let there be a little incident, you will know what defines the relationship between you and that person: either position, money or power. That is all the relationship between you and the person hangs on. If one of them is removed, you will the true colour of that person then you will thank God that you did not make a terrible mistake,’’ he added.
