By Osondu Ahirika
Immediate past Commissioner for Commerce and Industries in Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem has dismissed as false and unfounded, reports of alleged bullying from his erstwhile colleague and serving Commissioner in charge of Works, Mr Ephraim Inyang.
Barrister Enoidem was reacting to yet another tirade from one Michael Ukanga Ekpo against the Akwa Ibom Works Commissioner in which among other things, he alleged that he(inyangeyen) is waging a political war against Barrister Enoidem.
The said Michael Ekpo in a long piece widely circulated on social media wrote in part, that, "Hon Ephraim Inyang, the Commissioner-General, has been terrorizing other commissioners in Udom’s cabinet from its inception, two that had suffered direct victimization are former Commissioner Emmanuel Enoidem and Ekong Sampson, both suffered untold humiliation in the hands of the field Marshall Commissioner Ephraim Inyang, it's been told in hush voice how he even smashed Enoidem’s phone for answering a call before Udom."
The writer went ahead to further allege that, "Ephraim Inyang had chased out Enoidem from Udom’s house in Ewet Housing after Enoidem came back after resigning to contest for national treasurer at the botched PDP convention.
He terribly hates Enoidem so much it is believed that he is the one that has advised Gov Udom not to give Enoidem any board appointment. Ephraim Inyang told Udom that he has raised other politicians in Etim Ekpo that can deliver Udom without Enoidem. He even accuses Enoidem of planning to join APC.
It is Ephraim inyang and Akan Okon that are sponsoring Ekpoudom, Ekpuk Eshiet and other anti-Enoidem elements in Etim Ekpo to fight Enoidem and make Ekpoudom political leader."
However, Barrister Enoidem has broken his silence to again refute the claims. Reacting to the allegations on Ibom Telegraph, a popular news forum and which was made available to our news desk, Barrister Enoidem said it is untrue and described Mr Ephraim Inyang as his colleague, when he was his Dean in the college of Commissioners. His words:
"I have never had any confrontation or quarrel with Ephraim Inyang.
Never ever. So we couldn't have fought. Ephraim Inyang was my colleague as I was his dean in the college I resigned from exco with the full support of the gov in august to go and protect his interest at the national office of PDP.
I have a personal relationship with Gov Udom, Ephraim can't come in.
I believed and still believe in his capacity to lead Akwa ibom to the next level.
He's detribalized and a Christian.
I have never wanted to be appointed to any board as I wait to go to the party."
Barrister Enoidem also reiterated his resolve to support Governor Udom Emmanuel beyond 2019 to enable him deliver on his campaign promises. According to him(Enoidem),
"Am still working with and supporting Gov Udom to deliver on his promises and I will do this beyond 2019. I don't need to do it as a commissioner or board member but as one of his supporters, loyalists and a true Akwa ibom person who believe in the state.
In the day of election Ephraim will be in Onna while Enoidem will be in etim Ekpo. There is no magic that can make him be in the two places at the same time. He can't put a team in etim Ekpo. It's Gov who will do that."
On his part, Commissioner Inyang while reacting to the outburst by Michael Ekpo said, he will not respond to nor be distracted by cheap blackmail.
Mr Inyang who disclosed that, some disgruntled persons are aggrieved because he has spoken out against the litany of abandoned NDDC jobs and principled call for effective monitoring and execution of projects executed in the state by the interventionist agency said he is not surprised that hirelings of certain political interests will viciously attack his person.
Commissioner Inyang said he remains unyielding, firm, and totally loyal to Governor Udom Emmanuel who he said is his boss.
He vowed to spare no effort in working with the team the governor has carefully put in place at all levels to collaborate and collectively actualise the vision of Governor Emmanuel for an industrialized Akwa Ibom State, where political inclusion, wealth creation, infrastructural consolidation and sustainable development is the goal of the administration.
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