Does Udom Really Respect Martha?
Could it be certain that the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, has been having her fair experience as a victim of domestic violence in the hands of her husband as alleged by undisclosed sources privy to the first family affairs? Does her husband really make her face what she is standing against today? Is she currently going through silent marital distress? These are just questions whose answers should wait. But be that as it may, private life is a private business and should be carefully tucked away from the prying eyes of the public.
It is common
knowledge that a man who cherishes his wife would certainly respect his in-laws
and please them with gallantry. What this also means is that a man who
brutalizes his wife and gives her no respect would also treat people from her
side with total disregard and disdain. Recent media report claimed how the Akwa
Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanel, went to Oruk Anam local government area
where his wife originally comes from and told her people point blank that they
are kidnappers and murderers. Quoting Mr. Imo Udoima of The Ibom Informer, the governor allegedly said: “We have four contractors working now in Oruk
Anam, but in 2018 while the contractors were very serious with the work, Oruk
Anam, my in-laws, were the first Local Government Area to kidnap construction
workers and even killed a soldier and that work was stalled for almost one
year.”
When Udom Emmanuel allegedly made the above utterance at a wrong gathering in Ibesit Anwa Udo community where the remains of Arc. Idongesit Udoffa was to be interred, he did not unmask the actual identities of the criminals that kidnapped the road contractors and killed a soldier; even if he knew those behind the dastardly act and confirmed them to be of Oruk Anam extraction, the reason would not still be sufficient for him to heap the blame on all the elders, men, women, youths and children of Oruk Anam because the entire people of the local government area did not hold a meeting and resolve to attack those coming to construct their roads. The governor might not have known whether the abductors of the contractors and killers of a soldier were outsiders coming into Oruk Anam domain to commit the acts. The governor’s accusation was like shifting blame away from highway robbers to the locals because the commission of robbery happened in their community. If the governor really respected his in-laws, he should have blamed unidentified criminals for the delays in the execution of the ongoing Ikot Ekaide - Ikot Okoro-Ikot Ibritam road project instead of insulting the entire people of Oruk Anam. This is also a huge disrespect on Her Excellency, Martha Emmanuel.
The First Lady is from a royal lineage; her grand-father, Obong Ikpaisong Sampson Udoidiong was a paramount ruler of both Ukanafun and Oruk Anam local government areas. He was a man of commanding presence and his contributions to the creation of Akwa Ibom State are profound in our history. Hence, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel deserves maximum respect for herself and for her people. Martha is a good-natured and cultured woman who has not brought her husband’s name into disrepute nor has she been involved in any consequential scandal that could have brought shame upon her people. The governor’s uncouth utterance coupled with apparent abandonment of projects in Oruk Anam shows paroxysms of hate on his in-laws. Why are most projects in Onna local government area, the governor’s domain, got completed with no excuse while that of Oruk Anam continue to struggle? Still, the answer should wait. The governor’s utterance on Oruk Anam people is highly reprehensible and he should have exercised restraint or had a rethink before he let out that mass-dubbing.
This would not be the first time Oruk Anam would receive a derogatory tag from the government of their in-law. It would be recalled that in 2019, the then state Commissioner for Works, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, allegedly linked Oruk Anam people to the creation of 'artificial rain' which he said stalled the construction of roads network in the local government area. Since then roads in Oruk Anam are just left in deplorable condition probably to continue to give Martha’s people streaks of bad names.
What Governor Udom Emmanuel should know is that the people of Oruk Anam are not kidnappers, murderers or rainmakers. They are people that endure privations by the Akwa Ibom State government led by their in-law. His government should stem its libidinous drive for deceits as well as abdication of responsibilities and live up to its obligations. The people of Oruk Anam deserve good roads, clean water, electricity, industries, healthcare services, and employment instead of excoriating insults from splenetic fellows in government.
The governor should respect the ancient institution of ukot (in-law). This institution serves as a vital and sacred link between lineages and communities in Annang/Ibibio society. Hence, any wrongdoing against in-laws is regarded sacrilegious and demands heavy propitiation. Governor Udom Emmanuel, as a Christian, should take a cue from David in the bible who did not insult or harm King Saul, his father in-law, despite all attempts by Saul to kill him. David respected the sanctity of ukot institution. Therefore the governor should emulate David as a believer and apologize to Oruk Anam in-laws over the incendiary remark against them and then expedite the completion of all ongoing road projects in the local government area.
My special respect and thanks go to the emeritus General Superintendent of the Qua Iboe Church, Rev. David M. Udoudom who found time at the Funeral of a Late Arc. Idongesit Udoffa at QIC Central Primary School, Ibesit Anwa Udo to tell the Governor that Oruk Anam road was good and manageable by them only for the State Government to award a road contract but fail to deliver which makes it difficult for them to drive the road, adding that when a leader is given a job to do, he should do it well and properly as that would account for such leader.
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