A top contender for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen, has declared that no amount of conspiracy and campaign of calumny will stop him from emerging victorious at the primaries and general elections.
Speaking in Uyoat the weekend, Inyang-eyen said he served the State meritoriously as Commissioner for Works and later transferred same competence to his role as Chief of Staff to the Governor, before his exit from office.
According to him, the competence he exhibited while serving in the two capacities cannot be overwhelmed by paid propaganda and blackmail.
On why he is vying for the Senatorial seat, the former COS said: “I have the passion, network, mental capacity, strength and all it takes to serve well in the Senate.
“My years in Nigeria Customs Service exposed me to Nigerians from diverse backgrounds. I have done things with virtually all Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds.
“I know that I will be given the opportunity to change their narratives. My people have been yearning for quality representation as found today in Uyo Senatorial District or what was found in the days of Senator Godswill Akpabio in the Senate.
“If given the opportunity, I will replicate it better for my people by the grace of God. I am inviting aspirants from the three federal constituencies to come out for open, free and fair contest and if anybody from any of the constituencies wins, the rotation starts from that point, not sitting down and waiting for somebody’s anointing.
“It is much better when a man has passion to serve than one who was dragged into a race he never intended going into. A man who has passion to serve you will be accountable to the people. It is obvious in the State that the initial anointing done is not working, so they don’t need any more anointing,” he added.
On his relationship with his estranged friend and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, the former commissioner said:
“I came from Lagos in 2014 to support my brother and friend to win the governorship, but today, detractors said I was a pauper when I came, forgetting that I came and formed Transformation Agenda with chapters almost in major countries of the world and states of the federation funded single-handedly by me. I stuck with Udom Emmanuel because God told me he would be the next governor then.
“In 2019 when the turmoil started and some people left him, I went on Radio and said he will win; and he won. In the present dispensation, I am driven by the same passion.”
Inyang-eyen, who is a strong supporter of Senator Bassey Albert’s gubernatorial aspiration, advised perpetrators of blackmail and conspirators to refrain from such antics.
“The job of a media aide is to promote the achievements of the governor, not selecting those with divergent views with the governor to hack them down.
“One that God has blessed, no man can curse. I give you my word that those who are doing this will return to beg when Obong Bassey Albert would have emerged the governor and myself in the Senate. Go and write it down,” he noted.