By Franklyn ISONG
Without holding brief for the Eket monarch, Edidem Etim C.D. Abia,
whose interview on the disrespectful conduct of the Akwa Ibom Works
Commissioner, Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen, was published in the latest edition
of Radar newspaper.
I am putting the Works Commissioner in the dock of public opinion beginning with these questions:
1) It is true that the paramount ruler sent for you, Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen, during the demolition exercise in Eket and you refused to honour the call?
2) Is it true that a former Minister of Lands, a statesman and a strong supporter of the Udom Emmanuel government from Eket LGA, Chief Nduese Essien also reached out to you, Mr commissioner, and pleaded with you to honour the monarch's invitation but you rebuffed?
3) Can Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen snub a Monarch in the calibre of Edidem E.C.D. Abia in the Yoruba land, Hausa land or in Igboland and still go about issuing press statements justifying his action and castigating the Monarch?
I am not interested on the demands for payment of compensation, neither am I interested on the demands for seven cows for deity in Eket as alleged by the Works Commissioner, but the disrespectful conduct of a mere political appointee to the traditional institution is my point.
For the monarch to publicly say that "Ephraim Inyangeyen is arrogant and a liability to the Udom's Government and he (Works commissioner) is of the same age with his last son," one can imagine what the monarch must be going through by the action of Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen.
Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen cannot be allowed to go away with this unwarranted insults, attack and spite on the revered traditional stool of the Eket nation, in the name of beautification of Eket LGA.
The traditional institution in Eket had and will outstay this administration, and I doubt if Governor Udom Emmanuel can sanction such ignoble conduct of his appointee. But, if he does, then it is sad and unfortunate.
I am not from Eket local government, but I think the Commissioner's action is condemnable and should be condemned by all well meaning Akwa Ibomites, irrespective of political party leaning and/or tribe.
I think Ephraim Inyangeyen should tender an unreserved apologies to the monarch, the people of Eket and to the traditional institution in the state.
And let the governor call his "arrogant" commissioner to order.
*Franklyn Isong is a public affairs commentator.
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