A’Ibom APC Chieftains In Tears, Shares Bitter Experience Over Losses Recorded Since 2016
Naija News House reports that A’Ibom APC Chieftains In Tears, Shares Bitter Experience Over Losses Recorded Since 2016
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Akwa Ibom State Chief Godwin Jarkwa shared bitter experience and recount losses recorded since 2016.
He made the release during the early hours of today through his social media handle.
It was on Saturday 13th of February 2016, my phone rang and the caller was Ab Udofia. ‘How far?’ I inquired in our usual warm-hearted exchange. ‘Fine’, he replied. “How much will it take to service your car for a long distance journey?” he asked. I said 10k.
He said, “Send me your account details I’ll send you money for servicing and fueling of the car to Abuja tomorrow”. We will be travelling to Abuja to join “I stand with Buhari” Rally in Abuja, Oga (Obong Umana Okon Umana) said we should come.” he said.
The journey to Abuja was rescheduled for Monday 15th February instead of 14th as earlier said. Passengers in the vehicle were Mr. Efeh Ebong, Racheal Micheal, Ab Udofia and Daniel … (Dangote) all enroute Abuja by 4:30am and arrived Abuja at about 2pm.
On getting to Obong Umana Okon Umana’s house at 2pm, he asked us when we embarked on the journey, and we said same day, he was surprised that we made the trip to Abuja within that time.
Incidentally, 15th February was the day Supreme Court served notice of ruling on the case between Mr. Udom Emmanuel and Obong Umana Okon Umana in Abuja.
Immediately, we were served a sumptuous meal by the wife of our Principal (Governorship hopeful then) in her dinning in Abuja thereafter, we were taken to our Hotel by Mr. Sam Frank, former Commissioner NDDC, Akwa Ibom State.
Meanwhile, I have been using this same car for campaigns till people at a point thought it was Ab Udofia that owned the car. Recall that on joining the campaign convoy, the cost of servicing and fueling the car was on my personal account without reward or benefits. Except once that Mr. Steve Ubiam helped me pay for full servicing.
Ab Udofia argued that “there was no God,” that if God was in existence “why would he allow Chief Godswil Obot Akpabio to successfully handpicked/imposed a successor on Akwa Ibom people against all odds?” Efeh Ebong and Racheal Micheal supported this argument vehemently.
I was bullied by these four people in the vehicle. In their attempt to suppress me on this argument, Words like “why are you driving with your two hands on steering like an old man” “will you keep quiet” “do you know if this is not your car, I would have asked you to drop on the road?” Fiercely and jokingly till we got to Abuja. I regret the journey all through and my countenance changed.
On getting to the Hotel, they asked me what I was thinking. Or can’t I stay away from my home or wife for one week? I told them that I didn’t enjoy their conversation all through the journey.
On our way back to Uyo, this same arguments about Chief Godswil Akpabio imposing Governor Udom Emmanuel resurfaced. I told them that since we couldn’t stop him with ballots, it is the will of God and that there is nothing we can do about it. Secondly we should not abuse God for politics. “they called me Pastor”.
The moment I realized that, out of the five people in the vehicle, I was alone to defend the name of God that is being dragged in my vehicle, I knew I was in a wrong journey. Our journey to and fro was full of regrets based on the discussion in the vehicle. We returned to Uyo safely on Wednesday 17th February 2016.
On Thursday 17th February, about 10am, I was in Court with my Boss in office, when my phone rang repeatedly. I left the court room to check, behold it was Ab Udofia asking me; if I am not coming to Ekparakwa with them to attend Chief Sonny Udom’s daughter’s Traditional Marriage. I said no, I needed to rest and stay with my family. After all I didn’t enjoy their conversation on the last trip to Abuja.
About 11:30am, I had more missed calls some from same Ab Udofia and some from Efeh Ebong who pleaded that I should bring my car to carry him and others because his bus was used to convey APC women to the venue of the TM. Mr. Efeh Ebong persuaded me to bring my car for the journey. I gave into this pressure based on his plea as a car owner.
This time Rachel Michael was not with us, she joined another vehicle to the TM. We were four. We promised not to spend too much time at the venue of the TM, we left the venue at about 4pm. Mr. Efeh Ebong requested I should give him the car key. Without hesitation, I gave him the car key after all he’s a car owner as well.
I moved to the seat behind, he turned the car facing our way out, he sent Ab Udofia to get meat and plantain for him. He got it as requested, but said, “Ab Udofia do you know what I’m going to do? Come and drive this car so that I can eat that meat more than you” Ab took over the steering till we got to the joint before Ibagwa bridge where we had refreshment. Ab Udofia received an urgent call to be in Uyo shortly. Since he was the one driving, on getting to Abak bridge he overtook a car by the right hand side without horn. The driver ahead of us was Mr. Ibanga Brownson, the current PDP Vice Chairman from Nsit Ubium, who later told his story, that he saw the car far behind him with American spec light but shortly after he couldn’t see it again, only to hear a hit at the back of his car twice before his car lost control and jumped the middle barrier and collided with another RAV4 jeep head-on.
My car also lost control at a high speed, run through the landscape, hit the solar light pole at the middle barrier, uprooted it and spanned three times into the bush and went up in flames. (check the picture details below). This was a preventable collision but the driver wrecked the car. Thank God that four of us in the vehicle came out alive.
In this car was Ab Udofia the driver, Efeh Ebong front passenger, Dangote and myself at the back seat. This was the end of our arguments over Chief Godswil Akpabio succession plan and imposition till date.
Nobody cared about me and my car; a good Samaritan took me home for treatment. Following morning, 19th February 2016, I had a call from Mr. Efeh Ebong that oga (Obong Umana Okon Umana) said I should join them at Dunamis Clinic and Maternity, 15A, Afia Etoi Street, Uyo, for treatment. I asked, what about my car? He responded that he is concerned about our safety first, that the car is not an issue it will be replaced.
Weeks after we were all discharged from the hospital, nobody agreed to visit the police station to record a statement about the accident or care to know what happened to other people involved and their cars that were damaged.
I sent friends to follow up at the police station. They realized that the owner of the Corolla, Mr. Ibanga Brownson was a member in my church and that he’s looking for me. The day I visited the police station to record my statement as the owner of the vehicle, I was arrested and detained.
However, I asked the DPO why he ordered my arrest and detention even when I’ve identified myself as the owner of the car but not the driver that was involved in the accident. He said, but you gave him your car key, I said NO, it is Mr. Efeh Ebong that handed over the car key to Ab Udofia.
Despite my innocent, the argument with police yielded no fruit because the third party had already threatened to go to court after weeks of waiting without any record of our statements at the station.
Police kept me in detention from morning till late at night. My wife came to my rescue. I put a call to all these people involved, nobody showed up for me at the police station. Lastly it was Mr. Micheal Matthew who responded to my call from Lagos, pitied me in police cell, tried his best to call his friend Steve, in Abak to come and take me on bail because damages on other people’s cars were serious. My car and one other car were damaged beyond repairs and one other vehicle was fixed. Three vehicles and one street light pole were involved.
Ab Udofia, the driver of the vehicle never showed up to make a statement in station nor help me settle the cost of damaging other people’s cars and cost of replacing street light pole. Ab Udofia consulted his lawyer Barr. Victor Iyanam (former Attorney General of the State) to secure him from being arrested but has not for once asked me about the accident case and how I settled with the car owners till date.
He neither showed concern nor make any financial commitment to the damages caused by the wrecked. I bore the cost of that motor vehicle crash all alone with empty promises till I realized that most of the things they told me oga said this, oga said that, were all false. The man repeatedly distanced himself from being involved in the car crash story.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t bother you with such a long story but it’s another season of political nominations, endorsement and imposition or whatever you call it. Please, stay out of striving team and unnecessary arguments to avoid losses. Governor Udom will complete his two terms of 8 years in office as the governor; yet the losses of our opposing argument to whether it is right for a sitting governor to choose his successor or not is our burden till today.
To the glory of God no life was lost. Although, I lost more than a car, more money, but elections and arguments of why Governor Udom is the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has ended
It has been six (6) years today since my car crashed and too amany losses, to the glory of God “I did not choose this, but I must survive it”.
I am Godwin Jarkwa. Keep a date to read the next episode
A’Ibom APC Chieftains In Tears
