Last Throes of a Disgraced Impostor

By Ofonime Honesty

Many have now become aware of the mind boggling antics of a self-acclaimed village head somewhere in Uyo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

His name is Linus Inyang. He hails from and lives at Anua Offot community. He thrives on absurdity and lives a life oxygenated by controversies.

Known by many as a notorious land-grabber and auctioneer whose alleged victims are his kinsmen while his clients are the highest bidders who are mostly government officials, Inyang wants to grab, or snatch the village headship of his community same way he allegedly snatches parcels of land. Just mention his name, even a toddler would link it to land-grabbing and thuggery.

He has no association with royalty through inheritance, appointment, or conferment. He has no support of the traditional kingmakers of his village, he has no support of the Mbong Ekpuk (family heads) and of the village council and of the youth and of the women. Not only that, he is not recognized by the Offot Ukwa Clan Council of Chiefs and the Uyo Traditional Rulers Council headed by the Paramount Ruler.

The foregoing notwithstanding, Inyang has smuggled in the sobriquet 'Chief' and 'Village Head-Elect' into his name, and has been addressed as such by a section of his household and a couple of hired social media influencers.

Village Head-Elect? Elected by who, when, where and how? One may wonder where lies my interest in this case. Well, as a journalist and public affairs commentator, I have the right to comment on this issue which has over the years created unnecessary disaffection in that outstanding community. Until recently, I lived in that axis of Uyo metropolis, and can vividly narrate gory tales of his inordinate quest for vainglorious power.

On one occasion, I was almost maimed when some hoodlums allegedly sponsored by him went on rampage.

Such is the grim mindset of Inyang who is now glaringly on a quicksand.

About a year after the village headship tussle appeared to be have been done and dusted as Eteidung Patrick Ibanga's emergence was ratified by the kingmakers of the village, the Offot Ukwa Clan Council of Chiefs and the Uyo Traditional Rulers Council headed by the Paramount Ruler in 2020, Inyang has refused to budge. Glaringly, there is no better specimen of a sore loser than him.

Apparently reeling from the shock that hit him when the bonafide village head, Eteidung Patrick Ibanga Wednesday, October 5, 2022, hosted the Paramount Ruler, the Offot Ukwa Clan Council of Chiefs, political bigwigs and members of the community at the Anua Offot village hall in what was a very flamboyant ceremony, Mr Linus Inyang thought of a suitable counter action. He must have spent sleepless nights mapping out an action plan. Finally, he settled to drum the beats of politics, knowing full well that he lacks the wherewithal to convene a village council meeting.

He convened a political meeting attended by few chaps in his political ward, and openly endorsed a governorship candidate in the person of Pastor Umo Eno. He saw this as a smart way to buy into the hearts of political chieftains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He forgot that the traditional institution being sacred, should be kept out of politics. Accordingly, he used the event to implore Anua Offot people to embark on a door-to-door campaign for Pastor Umo Eno.

Not only Anua Offot, Mr Inyang equally called on the entire state to embark on the exercise. He dragged God into it, saying God is happy with the PDP governorship candidate. He said the endorsement is the official position of Anua Offot people.

It is disheartening that in a community membered by people with pluralistic political interests and political parties, the acclaimed "Eteidung" who is without a throne, is hoodwinking those whom he seeks to get a certificate of recognition from.

He is seeking the certificate through the backdoor, as he lacks the backing of the kingmakers of his village, the entire village up to the Offot Ukwa Clan Council of Chiefs and the office of the Paramount Ruler.

In all of these, Anua Offot is being ridiculed by one man who is hell-bent to destroy kingship. The name of a village which has scored many firsts is being bastardized. A village acknowledged by the Vatican to produce the highest number of Catholic priests in the world. A village that plays host to reputable hospitals, churches and schools. 

A village that has produced great scholars, judges, musicians and people in other fields of endeavour. Sad!

By ordering his imaginary subjects to embark on door-to-door campaign for a politician in his bid to secure a certificate of recognition that would never come, Inyang has brought shame upon Anua Offot. Pretending to be a village head, Inyang somersaulted into partisan politics, and lost every shred of credibility.

Mr Linus Inyang should recuse himself from this bizarre drama. At best, he should have presented himself as a member of PDP (which he is) and not bug the public with such acidic order from a non-existing throne.

He must remember that brigandage and scorn for the traditional institution may achieve initial ephemeral benefits but they cause long term damages to the individual who perpetuates them. While he is free to enjoy the latitude of his mischief, the public must not be underserved. They deserve better than what he has fed them with. We all have a duty to put the records straight and that is why I labour to react to that door-to-door campaign order.

His attempt at resuscitating a long dead aspiration of ruling the village has fallen flat. It has gone beyond comedy; it has now become a farce. I pray may depression not set in. But Inyang should know that he can't procure a certificate of recognition from aliens when his people have since chosen the king they want since 2020. Anua Offot people have spoken loud and clear on the leader they want.

Unsurprisingly, he fights with everyone. Even when his latest news of ordering his village and the entire state to embark on door-to-door campaign for Pastor Umo Eno was criticized on social media, he jumped into the fray, attacking those expressing dissent. So "unroyal", so immature! His ambition is now akin to a gyrating fowl whose head has been chopped off. They call it last throes. 

Mr Linus Inyang should respect his people and the traditional institution. He must remember that constituted authority must be respected and revered. Failure to do the needful is making his sands to sink. He is in a state of disarray. His woes continue, now his outside conspirators are stunned by his overwhelming rejection by his people. An inordinate ambition swallowed up by quicksands. The centre can no longer hold. It is however not too late to retrace his steps. We are watching.