Richard Peters,
Uyo.
Right from the inception of the administration of Governor UDOM Emmanuel, there has been series of attacks and these attacks are sponsored by Akwa Ibom APC who sees nothing good in this present government.
I believe that opposing a government in power either at the state or federal level is only ideal if it is aimed at bringing development and government closer to the common man. However, Akwa Ibom APC are waging war against development. They are fighting progress and attempting to give a “political” undertone to every effort by Gov. Udom Emmanuel to fulfil his campaign promises.
Recently, I stumbled on a baseless piece by an APC’s hireling who attempted to drag the name of the former commissioner for works, Hon. Akparawa Ephraim Inyang to the mud. I was even ashamed of the senseless arguments, complication of issues and naked lie tailored together by a reprobate writer who is wooden-headed and against development.
Absolutely, there is no where in the world where development is not preceded by levels of sacrifices. Some are controlled while some are beyond control. But all are aimed at enhancing the betterment of the people.
We know that no sane person would go out to pull down someone’s building without commensurate compensation being handed down. This has always been the case in the state. So, it makes no sense to believe the naked lie from the post where they claimed that on the orders of Hon. Ephraim Inyang, a bulldozer brought down the facility housing Food Affairs, Ikot Ekpene road, Uyo.
I wish to school the rookie writer and those who may have believed the lies as follows:
First, the Ministry of Works is different from Ministry of Transport. The writer of the article fails to understand that the two ministries are different.
Second, payment of compensation is not done by the Ministry’s staff members, but by an independent payment consultant to government, which the Ministry of Works oversees to ensure that the valuers value properties and summit appropriate report that aids the payment Consultant to pay compensation to owners of properties.
Findings reveal that appropriate agencies had approached the owner of Food Affairs, as well as the company handling the project on that same road to facilitate the valuing and subsequent payment of compensation. But the CEO of Food Affairs, Isidore Ebong, who incidentally is an inlaw to an APC chieftain, retired AIG Ekpoudom refused to comply as others did. All efforts to bring him to the dialogue table was meted with stiff resistance. Perhaps, he wanted to make news out of it. He rejected all offers, just to whip out sentiments.
“The said structure housing Food Affairs in Ikot Ekpene like several other Public and private buildings had been earmarked for demolition as far back as under the Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio administration which initiated the 25 kilometers dual carriageway way Uyo – Ikot Ekpene Road project.”
Beside that “The project which was inherited by Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, has been delayed because the backlog of outstanding compensations, running into staggering collosal amounts needed to be sorted out according to availability of funds.”
And “On March 14, after the governorship polls Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen led a team of Ministry officials to Ikot Ekpene and engaged the management of Food Affairs and several other property owners whose buildings would eventually be pulled down to make way for the road project, intimating them on the need to prepare for relocation as full compensation would be paid.”
Therefore “all structures were taken down without discrimination and there was obviously no names affixed to buildings or Party logo’s to label them.”
Thank God at least the writer has even owned up that payment was made at their premises, which the man rejected, on several occasions.
According reliable information, the owner of Food Affairs complained that the value was small, which the payment Consultant even advised him to take the cheque and can then appeal to the State government for assistance.
Even the contractor (Julius Berger) pleaded same with the man. But he paid deaf ears to the plea. Because he was planning to bite Hon. Ephraim Inyang.
Ephraim Inyang has been the center of attack and this is not far from the fact that he is committed to interpreting the vision of the present government. His quest to do things the right way, as against the previous practices and desire for quality service delivery is made those baptised in the pool of sharp practices to always be on his neck.
It is an act of foolishness to always attack Ephraim Inyang on things that are clear.
And i asked, Why is it always APC that peddled this falsehood?
Why is Ephraim Inyang a thorn to their flesh?
The truth is, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen is working with time. He handles his work professionally. He does not have the power to influence any value already given. And so it is preposterous to attempt to drag his name into this. What else did Isidore Ebong expect the agency incharge of the demolition exercise to do? Must the construction of the road and the state be held to ransom because of one individual who is anti- development? God forbid!
Even the Julius Berger staff’s handling the project confirmed they were there days before the day of the demolition and even that morning, pleading with them to vacate the promises, but they were ignored. He deliberately did it to whip out sentiments.
To tell you that he himself was waging war, the officials went there to meet his charge & bail lawyer. This alone is enough evidence that he was ready for fight.
Was his facility the only one marked out for demolition on that road? Why is his own the one making empty noise? Were houses owned by those sympathetic to the PDP not equally marked out for demolition, with commensurate compensation paid? Why do APC members always attempt to make headline out of every effort towards development?
It is high time they repented from causing unnecessary distraction in the state. Enough of their lies. No one is above the law and no man should play God. Development must continue in the state, and no man can stop Gov. Emmanuel from his completion agenda.
