Former Akwa Ibom Chief of Staff Faults Claims over Gov Emmanuel’s Successor

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The sacked Chief of Staff to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen, has countered the claim made by his former boss, Governor Udom Emmanuel, that God spoke to him to pick Pastor Udo Eno as his successor.

Inyang-eyen argued that “God does not give one man revelation. The Bible says that in the mouth of three or four witnesses (sic), truth is established.”

He spoke at a rally organized for the Senator Representing Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Bassey Albert by Youths of Eket Senatorial District.
The former Chief of Staff equally hinted that God has told him that Senator Albert is going to be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State come 2023.

Before now, there had been speculations that Senator Bassey Albert was the preferred candidate by the former Chief of Staff for the PDP governorship ticket in the state.

It was the first time the former Commissioner for Works openly declared his support for Senator Albert mostly known by the locals as ‘OBA’ at the rally held by the youth.

He stressed that for Senator Albert to have stepped 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, Albert 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 and ‘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 ‘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, to 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. But Senator ‘OBA’ shall remember people, Senator ‘OBA’ remembers 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 a 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.