War Against Opposition: Inyangeyen Pulls Down Food Affairs Building On Customers

By UbongAbasi Ise

Former Commissioner for Works in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen, is  in the news again for the wrong reason.

A shocking report from Ikot Ekpene recently has it that the customers of the popular Food Affairs in the city were thrown into serious risk when the demolition of the eatery was ordered by the former commissioner.

An eye witness who refused to be named alleged that between 3:30pm - 4pm on that fateful day, which was the peak hour for most eateries, Food Affairs was filled to the capacity when customers and staff noticed bull dozers arriving the premises of the eatery. While some customers were eating and staff were attending to them, the former Commissioner in company of some security operatives gave strict instructions that the Food Affairs building be pulled down.

According to the source, Ephraim Inyangeyen was heard shouting instructions; telling those around that "Akwa Ibom State is a PDP state, therefore no APC business premises will be allowed to thrive anywhere in the State."

Incidentally, Food Affairs is rumoured to be owned by an APC Chieftain, DIG Ekpoudom (rtd), who is said to be the in-law to the proprietor and CEO of the company.

Mr Isidore Ebong, the executive officer of Food Affairs, according to media report, said that, apart from loans from banks like Ecobank and UBA, he has never done any government contract in all his adult life. He said he is not partisan or a card carrying member of any political party. 

Ebong, a native of Midim in Abak local government area said he started the eatery with loans he received from UBA, Nnewi, where a brother, His Royal Highness, Obong Ifiok Umanah Mkpokporo

VII, the Abaak of Abak assisted him in securing loans from the bank while he was still serving as the branch bank Manager before retiring to become a traditional ruler. He also link other loans to some banks that had in recent time grant him loans which he utilized to expand the business.

Aside the usual mark for demolition that was put on the building to show that it had been marked for demolition, Isidore Ebong said he has never received any money as compensation from any government for the building he erected to house his Eatery.

Mr Isidore said one of his staff had notified him last week Friday, 21st June, 2019 that some people had arrived the eatery in a white bus and a lot of persons were trooping into the eatery to meet them. They were informed that Ministry of Transport was making payments for properties marked for demolition as works had just commenced to push for the completion of the 23 kilometer Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road that had been abandoned by the administration in the past four years. Isidore said he immediately instructed his Manager, who was on afternoon shift to immediately move to the Eatery and confirmed if the building was amongst those to be paid compensation.  The manager called back confirming their company’s building was on the list. Mr Isidore Ebong asked he should be made to speak with whoever was in charged. The Manager went on to speak with one Mr, UbongAbasi Williams - a staff of Ministry of Transport who was said to be handling payments.

Mr Isidore had put a call through to Mr. Williams, who promised to release his cheque of N30m if he could be in their office on Monday before 9:30am. 

Mr. Isidore was said to arrived the Ministry of Transportation on Monday, and called Mr. Ubongabasi Williams  to intimate him that he was in his office. The Works ministry staff’s response was that he was in a meeting but would appreciate if Mr. Ebong could come back by 11:30am. The businessman decided he should rather wait. After several calls and text messages, the meeting could not hold, his cheque was not released either as gathered. 

Mr. Ubongabasi William was said to have called Mr. Isidore Ebong later to inform him that Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen and himself will be at Ikot Ekpene on Wednesday, 26^th June, 2019, and that instead of traveling to Uyo, he should rather wait for them there since he insisted on meeting the former commissioner to discuss the amount allotted for the compensation of the building. Mr. Ebong reportedly waited the whole day, but the Inyangeyen and Williams failed to show up.

Ebong was said to have to personally initiate calls to the former Commissioner, who rebuffed his them even when sending several text messages to identify himself as the CEO of Food Affairs.

©The Sensor Newspaper

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