A Stitch In Time Saves Nine? By Bassey Udosen

The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” (Dante Aliegri)

The unfolding certificate forgery scandal hanging around the neck of Pastor Umo Eno, the man whom Deacon Udom Emmanuel and his boys – Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem , Enobong Uwah and Frank Archibong imposed as the ‘governorship candidate’ of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in our dear State is such that men and women of good conscience who mean well for this State can no longer sit back and watch or stand and stare as if it is of no consequence. Yes , the threesome have made their money , extended their empires and are living large , bestriding the state and country as colossuses. The unfortunate and unfolding Ordinary level certificate forgery saga has brought an unmitigated embarrassment and shame on Akwa Ibom people and the whole state with potentials of even wider implications. Akwa Ibom State has a solid standing as a land that has produced well educated men and women who have excelled in academia, businesses and the professions over the years. For crying out loud , this is the home state of revered icons like the late international jurist, Hon.Dr.Egbert Udo Udoma , who distinguished himself as a first class scholar in Dublin in the 1930’s. This state also produced the legendary Barr. O.O.Ita of Oro extraction. This state had the educationist, Professor Eyo Ita , the 7 merchants of light , including Professors Essien Udom, Donald Ekong , Reuben Uko , Sam Akpabot , Etim Essien , Okon Uya , Enyenihi and thousands of others in the state , across Nigeria and in the Diaspora. The dead , among them would be turning in their graves over this shame that has turned Akwa Ibom into a butt of jokes and a laughing stock everywhere in the 21st century.
How have the mighty fallen ?
Who would explain to future generations that the state that produced world class public Administrators like Chief Ntieyong Akpan , Ekukinam Bassey, Ime Ebong, Clement Isong, public intellectuals like Moses Ekpo, Nelson Etukudo, Ahaziah Umana, Ray Ekpu , Effiong Essien , Timtiniko Enodien, Nsikak Essien , Udeme Ufot , a guru in advertising and Anietie Usen to name just a few among several others is now using state resources to promote a Governorship candidate with questionable basic academic qualifications ? What shall we tell our children ?
Would we tell them that lying one’s way to appointment and government position is just okay and that they should muddle their way through life like Umo Eno ? Is this not witchcraft ? Are the sponsors of Umo Eno not bewitching Akwa Ibom people while singing and dancing during Government house prayer gatherings ? Who does not know that failing examinations is not bad but no reasonable person should support the deliberate procurement of fake examination results to gain advantage in any society. Why is Udom Emmanuel paying Akwa Ibom back with a counterfeit coin ?
What would Prelate Mbang and other Fathers of Faith tell their grandchildren about this saga ? Is Prelate Mbang who prayed during the unveiling of Umo Eno at peace with himself ? Does a man who went to the best schools , served as National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria and President of World Methodist Communion sleep well at night in his old age for not questioning the process which threw up Umo Eno as the right choice to lead Akwa Ibom State from 2023 ? What would Archbishop Joseph Ekuwem say about this ? That the home state of the first Cardinal of West Africa has gone this low ? And that his younger brother , a well known ICT expert was a part of the decision making cabal ?Who bewitched Obong Victor Attah to eat this humble pie and become the person assigned to bless this mess at every turn ? Does Obong Attah now listen to himself ?

One recalls that Deacon Udom Emmanuel had told the people of the state that it was God who revealed Umo Eno to him but at different interviews with Journalists recently, Obong Attah has declared that there was a group behind that choice. Who constituted that group and who were the Members ? He hasn’t said ! How on earth can Arc. Victor Attah emerge as the new spokesperson to a man young enough to be his son ? No wonder , Ekerete Udo , the greatest pretender to the office of Chief Press Secretary to the Governor since the creation of that office has gone into hiding because former Governor Attah has taken over his job ! What a time to be alive in Akwa Ibom State !
But must Umo Eno be Governor at all cost and by all means ? What does Deacon Udom Emmanuel want to hide that another person could not have covered up for him ?

Why is the sneaky ambition of one man bigger than the collective health and sustainable wellbeing of a state with more than 7 million people ? Why are the promoters of this particular Candidate so obstinate and bullish in wrongdoing in a wrong direction ?
Okay, Enobong Uwah wants to become the Secretary to the State Government, and Frank Archibong wants to continue in his present office, while Enoidem plans to run the show from the Senate in Abuja and prepare to take over in 2031! These are the three ‘wise’ henchmen who have brought this roof down on Akwa Ibom State and pressed the entire state to it’s knees.
So far , the image of this state has been tarnished , it’s high time people moved to save what remains of it for the sake of posterity.

Akwa Ibom leaders should not be seen to be condoning bad behavior bordering on criminality. It is trite saying that evil rules when good people keep silent.
A stitch in time, they say, saves nine , Governor Udom Emmanuel should pull back and back off from this wretched path now to save this State from eternal shame.

Whether the SANs hired to defend Umo Eno succeed in buying the case or not , the conflicting certificates, birthdates, marriage date, the legal imbroglio has damaged Candidate Umo Eno beyond redemption and derobed him of every value to serve in any capacity in Akwa Ibom State going forward. He should be released to return to his hotel business.
Udom Emmanuel should come off his high horse , humble himself , proceed on a weekend dry fasting with all the fathers of faith for using the name of God in vain and for ‘playing the street’ with the generality of Akwa Ibom people. A stitch in time , indeed , saves nine !

Bassey Udosen writes from Mkpok, ONNA in Akwa Ibom State.