MEDIA ATTACK ON DEPUTY GOVERNOR: MKPAT ENIN PEOPLE FEAST ON BERNARD UDOH *say deputy governor is not responsible for his woes BY UBONG SAMPSON The recent media attack on the Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe by a former federal lawmaker, Rt. Hon Bernard Udoh who represented Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency for twelve years, precisely between 1999 - 2011 has generated heated controversies, as indigenes of Mkpat Enin of all works and age class have reacted to the claims of the former lawmaker. Part of the allegations made by Rt Hon Udoh was that the deputy governor threatened to send him back to prison and according to him, Lady Ebe also threatened to repeat what she did to him in 2011. Though the press secretary of the deputy governor had told our reporter who contacted her on phone that the allegations were not true, the Mkpat Enin people obviously were nor satisfied with that, especially the senior political stakeholders who were part of the meeting with the states police commissioner where Bernard claimed he was threatened... and while most of them who spoke with our reporter on phone only maintained that Bernards claims were all false and baseless, others went further to accuse Hon Bernard of trying to raise false alarm so as to gain sympathy from the public over an election he is not truly seeking. Our reporter also gathered from some of the Mkpat Enin stakeholders that Hon Bernard is not truly seeking election into the Ikot Abasi Federal House seat but working for a particular aspirant who apparently is afraid of the Mkpat Enin Representative in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Rt Hon (Barr) Ekong Sampson who is also seeking election into same office. The Paramount Ruler of the area, HRM, Edidem Akpan Akpan Ekpene also spoke and extensively touched another controversial issue which Bernard had raised where he was accused of conspiring with some greedy chiefs to serve him a traditional injunction to bar him from supporting any gubernatorial aspirant outside Eket Senatorial District. This, reports confirmed was a well designed plot to help him ditch the two leading guber aspirants from Uyo S.D after he was done milking them of so much cash. Below are some of the speakers and their speeches: Elder Ukonsek Ukonsek: “It is unfortunate that Bernard gathered pressmen to say all what I read on the papers yesterday. They were complete lies. It was Bernard who was insulting the deputy governor, in the police commissioner’s office where we met, Bernard openly claimed to be the most senior amongst us all, including the deputy governor whereas that is not correct. The deputy governor is the most senior politician in Mkpat Enin, not Bernard Udoh. Mma was never involved in any exchange of words with him on that day, neither has she bore any grudge against him. Mma never threatened to send Bernard back to prison. She never said any such, Bernard is simply lying. As for his aspiration, I don’t think he is seeking election. Maybe someone has positioned him to use his to achieve an aim. I don’t see Bernard having the naves to seek election when he can hardly point at one positive thing he did during his first twelve years stay. Besides, this is not how we knew him in seeking election. The Bernard Udoh we know seeks election with full energy and strength whenever he is serious about it. But he’s so cold about it this time. He should just leave Mma alone. Mma has no business with his woes”. Paramount Ruler of Mkpat Enin, HRM, Edidem Akpan Akpan Ekpene: “I find it hard understanding issues like this because I am heading the Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) in Mkpat Enin and we are not politicians. No one has reported the case of the allegations on the deputy governor for me to know what is actually going on. If anyone has insulted Mma, it should be reported to us, the traditional rulers with a copy of the newspaper as evidence then we know what to do. I am yet to hear of such publication. We carefully define our route away from politics because politicians are always acting in ways that are not right. So we cannot join them. Whatever is going on should be brought to the traditional rulers then we know what to do. Concerning the report of the traditional injunction, I was never aware neither did I take part in such. If you check the newspaper where the report was done, you will not find my name there. I am the head of TRC in Mkpat Enin and if anything of such should take place, it should be upon my awareness and approval. But where I was and still is ignorant of how such thing came by, then it has no authentication by the Mkpat Enin TRC, and of course, it is not from TRC. It is rather sad that politicians decided to use the royal fathers’ enclave and umbrella through the backdoor to achieve their selfish aim, and it is sadder that some of our chiefs are forcing their way into politics just for the inducements involved”. Hon Ini Ekanem, former Special Adviser, Special Duties, Mkpat Enin Transition Committee and National Coordinator, Supreme Council of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency Youths (SCIFCOY): “First of all, I want to say that Hon Bernard Udoh had been on that seat for twelve years and we appreciate him for being there. At least, he has made a name for himself as one of those that served for a very long time, having stayed for three consecutive terms. But the big question is, what were the democratic dividends to the people in the twelve years that he was there? I have read series of publications made by our brother, Hon Bernard Udoh, but I am yet to read about his numerous developmental strides. So that is to say they were very few of them or maybe none at all. It is not a welcome development that Bernard should even think of aspiring. Infact, the entire youths of Mkpat Enin frowns against it. And the reason is because we had unanimously endorsed Rt Hon Ekong Sampson to go and represent the good people of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in the national assembly. So whatever prompted Bernard to aspire just 3 weeks ago remains unknown to us. But so far he has not done wide consultation to know the views of the electorates concerning his aspiration. And this shows he does not even care about the people. Hence, his aspiration is based only on his personal interest. I am sure if he attempted consulting the people, he would have been told point blank not to contest. We all know his mission is to come and divide the Mkpat Enin votes for Ekong Sampson but I am happy to pre-announce his failure because as we speak, Ekong Sampson had finished his consultation which went wide to the people of the three local government areas making up the constituency and he is only waiting for the will of God to be added to his efforts for a resounding success at the polls. His campaign slogan says “Restoration 2015- for the sake of the people’, but as a forefront youth leader in the area and the federal constituency at large, I am saying as one for the people that Bernard Udoh is not going there for the sake of anyone except that of his personal self. Now concerning our own, our pride, our treasure, the deputy governor of our state, noble lady Valerie ebe, I want to put it that Bernard is trying to blackmail our deputy governor and also paint her black before her boss, the governor, but again, he has failed because I know her honour very well and I know she would not for any reason open her mouth to make threatening statements on Bernard Udoh. This is an obvious lie. Mma takes and treats everyone like her own and what she would not do to her child or relative, she cannot do same to any other person we heard all his lies against Mma and in a recent meeting of ukpum minya youths, such act was completely frowned at and condemned and we will soon go public in responses to that”. Hon Mfon Ncanteon, former Chairman, Mkpat Enin L.G Council: That statement is totally false and baseless. Bernard happens to be my brother. We are from the same clan. But to be honest, what happened that day was that the commissioner was trying to address us in office on that day of the ad-hoc delegates election. He was telling us that he was not happy with the way things were happening in the area. Everybody was given the opportunity to talk and when it was Bernard’s turn, he stood up and said ‘well, as the most senior person here’. There and then the commissioner kicked against his use of such words. The commissioner asked him how he was the most senior when he (the commissioner) and the deputy governor were there. Mma never made such statement. It was only his erring statement that the commissioner tried cautioning him on, and that he should respect the office of the deputy governor who obviously is older than him in age. Mr Asuquo Ennang, President of Mboho Mbono Mkpat Enin: “The former House of Reps member, Bernard Udoh, I would say it is very awful for him to come out and seek election into the same office he held for twelve years, though we know he has no intention of his own this time, but on an errand for someone whom we feel is afraid of Ekong Sampson and had to send Bernard to mar his (Ekong’s) chances. As the President of Mboho Mbono Mkpat Enin, I am saying it confidently and it is nothing but the truth that Bernard is not looking for election but on a mission to fight Ekong Sampson. However in spite of his fight, Ekong Sampson is going to succeed to the House of Reps come 2015. There is no much to say; we all know Bernard to be someone who is not coordinated in speech and in action, so we are not surprised. His aspiration is ill-aimed and doesn’t conform with the desires of Mkpat Enin people, that is why we are asking him to stay off the contest and give way to serious and meaningful persons”.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 06:37:59 +0000
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