By Emmanuel Ufon
Recently, some disgruntled elements sponsored by the incumbent member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Ukpong – Udo set on a campaign of calumny against the revered and highly respected Political leader of Ini Local Government Area, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen with unjustified mudslinging because of Inuaeyens true position on the zoning of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency seat.
To advance his inordinate ambition of truncating the peaceful coexistence of the people in the two local government areas (Ikono and Ini) making up the federal constituency, Emmanuel Ukpong-udo funded blackmailers with manufactured scandals asking for Obong Bassey Inuaeyen’s contributions to his people and Akwa Ibom State while seeking to actively tarnish the formidable and irrevocable good reputation of the political leader of Ini, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen because of his true position on the zoning of the federal constituency seat.
It is on record that before his emergence in 2019, Obong Inuaeyen gave him all the necessary financial support in millions of naira for his election, which irrespective of his political ambition Emmanuel Effiong Ukpong-udo otherwise known as Macaire with his conjecture of an indolent opposition against the truth and his last kick of a dying horse would not have sponsored all the defamatory pieces against a man of honor who has so far impacted on the people of Ikono/Ini and beyond.
In the history of the affairs of mankind, wherever and whenever democracy has thrived as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, to give people the best available option and the best shot they can have at good governance, vibrant, virile and visionary is elders in the society like Obong Bassey Inuaeyen who have the interest of the people at heart and are ready to stand on the platform of truth on issues that will enhance peaceful coexistence of the people are needed.
Whenever a society has been able to forge a content citizenry out of an otherwise disgruntled mishmash of men and women who would ordinarily favor a survival of the fittest, it was usually because proactive stakeholders were always around to resolve conflicts and clear away the cobwebs that so often accompany men and their matters.
Firmly etched into the human experience of existing in any society is the harrowing fact that whenever the men of integrity failed to meet the ends of justice or whenever people have not perceived that justice has been met, the wounds have always taken time to heal.
Leaders’ interventions have no doubt largely helped to sanitize a system that has not always been without blemish. But more than cleaning the Augean stables, the actions of Obong Bassey Inuaeyen the Political Leader of Ini Local Government Area in stopping zooming disruption in Ikono/Ini have strengthened the foundations of unity, peaceful coexistence among the two LGA making up the federal constituency for the sustenance of democracy and among hope among the people.
In Macaire’s boy’s unjustified cheap blackmail, they enquired to know what Inuaeyen (A man who staked close to twenty million of his hard-earned money for their paymaster ) has done for Akwa Ibom people including his federal constituency
God in all ramifications uses Obong Bassey Inuaeyen for Akwa Ibom State and the reason why Akwa Ibom people will continue to appreciate and respect him, he joined politics to influence the government’s policies for the good of the people of the state and humanity in general; to help in human development, especially the youth and the downtrodden ones. God has so far used him to uplift some people.
Obong Bassey Inuaeyen detests cheap publicity and does not blow his trumpet, he remains in his honor a kingmaker and political leader who was part of the making of Ministers, National Assembly Members, Speakers of the House of Assembly, Commissioners, Local Government Chairmen, Board Membership, Councillors, heads of Schools and entrepreneurs.
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He is so selfless a person and did not join politics for personal benefits but to create access for others to grow. Those who believe or claim that he is not a consummate politician have gone wrong. On the contrary, Inuaeyen tried his best to achieve some of the objectives that took him into politics.
Without sounding immodest, here are some of the things he was able to achieve for the people: In 1989, God used him, Sen Aloysius Etok, and the late Chief I W Inyang to successfully establish a Premier Housing Estate for Akwa Ibomites, Ewet Housing Estate. He leads the team to raise the funds for the construction of the estate. At some point, there was a crisis in the Housing Authority between the Management staff he had to personally superintend the affairs of the Authority until the crisis was resolved.
His company was appointed the consulting company to syndicate funds, manage the construction and ensure repayment. His record of service is there with the authority and people like Chief J. J. Obot, Chief (Hon) Asuquo Nyong Essien, and Barr Henry Isangidihe are there to testify to this.
Obong Bassey Inuaeyen, according to Distinguished Senator Aloysius Etok was part of the success story of the late Obong Akpan Isemin’s emergence as governor.
“In 1992, His Excellency, late Obong Akpan Isemin, realizing the leadership potential of Obong Bassey Inuaeyen paid my brother and friend a visit to his office to inform him of his Gubernatorial ambition. He felt honored by the visit and promised to join others to work for the realization of Isemin’s ambition.
Inuaeyen worked with Mr. Ise Akpaso to coordinate the first dinner where he formally announced his ambition to the crème de la crème of Akwa Ibom people in Lagos. Of course.
“He went ahead to join others in his local government area to work for his success and Isemin won succeeded.”
In 1995, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen coordinated Obong Ebong Okon’s Gubernatorial aspiration at UNCP. He was to be formally nominated when the Government of General Sani Abacha canceled the process. Obong Daniel Udoh (North-South) can testify to this.
The revered Inuaeyen, in 1996 during the Government of Col. Bako awarded him the construction of the Akwa Ibom liaison office, in Abuja. But the government did not have funding in place for the project and he had to use his creditworthiness to raise adequate funding for the project. The project was completed and commissioned. Mr. Godsfrey Bartepeh and others can testify to this.
Inuaeyen in 1997 was appointed the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the state’s 10th Anniversary alongside 21 other members. The government was given a budget of N33 million but we planned and executed the anniversary with only N8.7 million and he succeeded in the project with the cooperation of others in the committee, Especially, Chief Clement Isok and the late Nene Etuk.
During the anniversary planning, he conceived the idea of establishing “The 10th Anniversary Hotel” as the high point of the celebration. The hotel project was successfully launched and funds were raised. People expressed doubts about Government’s sincerity towards the implementation but Inuaeyen assured them during the launching that if the hotel is not constructed, he will refund their monies.
According to available records, at the commencement of the construction of the hotel, the government tried to interfere with the process, Inuaeyen, and the committee tried and protect the public funds by depositing their funds with the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance and obtaining treasury receipts.
The proposed 10th Anniversary hotel is what is today called Dakkaada Secretariat, courtesy of Obong Bassey Inuaeyen and others. Macaire boys should ask his paymaster where he was in these days.
Inuaeyen in1998 handled the construction of the Governor’s office and the House of Assembly Complex. Both projects were completed successfully with quality and standard.
Inuaeyen joined PDP in 1999 with his group, and the Pioneer Chairman was chosen by him. He contributed to the success of the party during the 1999 general elections. He supported all PDP candidates during the polls which he has been doing up till today. After the elections, he hosted all the elected officials, irrespective of party, in his country home in Mbente, Nkari clan of Ini Local Government Area.
God used Inuaeyen in 1999 to influence the government to carry out the first-ever major grading of Nkari road from Mbiabong and in 2001, God used him to reactivate the Nkari Dam project, which was abandoned for many years through the help of Hon Eno Akpan, Hon Esio Okwong Udoh, the then Hon Ita Enang, late Obong Ufot Ekaette, Sen Tunde Ogbeha, and Minister Mukhtari Shagari.
Inuaeyen as a man of peace in 2002 successfully fought to return Hon. Emmanuel Ebe to the office after he was removed from office. He spent most of the money to sustain the fight and contributed three million naira towards the salaries of Councillors who were with Ebe and to date, the money has not been refunded to him by the council.
In 2003, he formed Akwa Ibom Frontline Movement to support Obong Victor Attah’s 2nd term bid and hosted a fundraising dinner, and raised a lot of funds for the campaign.
Obong Bassey Inuaeyen in 2003 was appointed the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the PDP campaign.
In 2003, he saved the state millions of dollars from a very bad hospital renovation and equipping contract the state was misled to enter into. What would cost the state more than $20 million was executed at $6.7 million? He also got millions of Naira duty waivers on the hospital equipment for the state with the assistance of Sen. Anietie Okon.
Inuaeyen in 2007 was one of the Federal Constituency leaders, who stood firm to defend the zoning arrangements between Ikono andIni, when threatened is being threatened today, he lead others in 2008 to defend our zoning principles when threatened by the administration of Sen Godswill Akpabio.
There are a lot more to list. But let’s stop here and ask, with all these contributions should Inuaeyen not be honored?
Every year Inuaeyen, a man of inestimable value supports students with scholarships for their studies, in which most of the beneficiaries are medical doctors, lawyers, engineers, media practitioners and entrepreneurs. Obong Bassey Inuaeyen is a firm believer in the future of the youth for a better society through education.
Those who are being paid to insult this man of impact and integrity should ask themselves where they were during those years.
