By Franklyn ISONG
I have followed the remodeling of Eket township project being embarked upon by the Akwa Ibom State government under Mr Udom Emmanuel.
The project is carried out by the ministry of Works, where Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen is the supervising commissioner. It involves demolition of structures found on the right of way.
It involves payment of compensation to owners of affected structures so demolished. It involves carrying along the stakeholders of Eket on the remodeling exercise to ensure a peaceful execution of the project.
Last week, news was rife about the high-handedness of the Commissioner for Works, Ephraim Inyangeyen, in Eket. It was the most revered voice in Eket.
A voice that should be respected by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel. No other than the pioneer Atta Ekid and Paramount ruler of Eket, Edidem E.C.D. Abia that spoke against the commissioner’s anti-inhuman activities.
Edidem Abia, who, traditionally is in the rank of the Emir Kano, the Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Oba of Lagos, Oba of Benin and the Igwes/Ezes of Igboland, granted an interview to Radar Newspaper, accusing the Works Commissioner, Ephraim Inyangeyen, of being “arrogant and a liability to the government of Udom Emmanuel.”
The monarch made the assertion after Mr Inyangeyen repeatedly snubbed him and disrespected his traditional stool.
The monarch told newsmen in his palace that arising from several complaints he received from his subjects (Eket people) on the handling of the Eket beautification project by the Commissioner for Works. Abia, like any reasonable royal father of his status would do, sent for the Commissioner, who is the age mate of his last son.
But regrettably, the Commissioner snubbed him and refused to honour his invitation. This, apart from being sacrilegious, is a slap to the traditional institution and to the entire people of Eket nation.
Radar Newspaper reporter also spoke with an elder statesman and strong supporter of the Udom Emmanuel’s administration.
A national figure who is a former federal lawmaker and former federal minister, Chief Nduese Essien on the development.
Who was a delegate to the 2014 National Conference and he confirmed the development, adding that he also contacted the Commissioner and advised him to honour the royal father’s invitation but he (commissioner) refused.
No sooner, the report was published on Monday by Radar newspaper and others, the Commissioner for
Works granted a press conference in Uyo, accusing the paramount ruler of demanding for 7 cows from him and the government, as sacrifice to appease certain deities before the Eket Roundabout and other structures in the area could be demolished by government.
The commissioner painted a picture that the monarch is fetish and indulges in satanic practices. He casted aspersion on the integrity of the monarch.
And lowered the towering image of the iconic Eket monarch in bad light with his allegation. He reduced the prestige and status of the traditional institution.
ECD Abia was treated in odium and disdain by members of the public as a result of the commissioner 7 cows’ allegation.
The media attack unleashed on the monarch by the commissioner continued even on
Tuesday (yesterday) morning, on a government sponsored Radio programme, “Akwa Ibom Mandate.”
When the Commissioner repeated his 7 cows’ allegation while fielding questions from the anchor of the programme, Sampson Akpan.
But, this morning (Wednesday), I received reports that the “arrogant” Commissioner yesterday Nicodemously sneaked into the monarch’s palace in Eket in company of the Transition Committee chairmen of Eket and Esit Eket.
And I asked; ‘what for?’ “To further insult the monarch in his palace,” my sources said. “He did not apologise to the monarch. But he directed the Transition Committee chairmen to apologise on his behalf.
Because he (Ephraim Inyangeyen) carries himself too high that he cannot say ‘I am sorry’ to the monarch after disparaging his image and traditional stool,” my sources who were in the palace during the visit noted.
According to one of my source, “The commissioner of works escorted by the Eket and Esit Eket LG Transition Committees chairmen visited the Paramount Ruler of Eket yesterday and it was the Transition Chairmen that pleaded for forgiveness against recent misguided media attacks on the person of His Royal Majesty.
The Paramount Ruler is still wondering how his purported demand for cows arose as he never had audience with the commissioner before yesterday and neither does he engage or encourage ritual sacrifices.
“The royal father emphasised the wrong approach of compensation by the ministry as complaints of agony among his subjects is worrisome. His Majesty also cease the opportunity to make a case for Udua Fiongetok.”
According to my sources, “the contentious issue is on the payment of compensation. On the 1st of June, 2017, the Commissioner went and asked the affected Eket people to vacate their ancestry homes within 7 days. And at the expiration of the notice, he went to demolish the houses without payment of compensation and the people protested.
He then told them; ‘okay, come to my office and collect your money on Thursday and Friday, then, I will come and demolish thereafter.”
If this is true, then, I need to remind the commissioner that the compensation law prescribes 90 days notice of relocation after due payment of compensation to the occupants have been made.
This is not about playing politics with the issue. I disagree with the commissioner’s Nicodemous visit to the monarch.
It is very highly hypocritical for Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen to use the media to disparage the character of no less a person, but a first class monarch in Akwa Ibom State and later Nicodemously went to his palace for forgiveness. I reject such approach. It is unacceptable.
In this circumstance, the matter is in the public court of opinion. Let Mr Inyangeyen address a press conference, same way he did to accuse the monarch.
He should use the press conference to apologise to the monarch, the people of Eket and to the traditional institution in the state. Otherwise, he owes the monarch, the people of Eket and indeed, the traditional institution an unreserved apology.
• Franklyn Isong is a public affairs commentator
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