Governor’s Wife Clashes With Female Commissioner In Public
Governor’s Wife Clashes With Female Commissioner In Public
The perennial personality clash between the Akwa Ibom State first lady, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel and the state commissioner for agriculture, Dr Glory Edet, came to a head on Monday when Emmanuel could no more stomach the insults of the commissioner and had to order security men to bundle her out of an occasion.
The event was the International Women’s Day celebrations at which Edet, not only flouted protocol and laid down directives, but openly insulted the first lady of the state
It was learnt that the First Lady had asked the wives of all 31 Local Government chairmen to mobilize women for the event held at Ibom Hall ground, IBB Avenue, Uyo. The arrangement was that each Local Government First Lady should bring 40 women in two buses.
While the wife of Ini Local Government Chairman from where Edet hails , Mrs. Edith Idaisin who is also the Women Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement, Ini Chapter, brought women from Ini in two buses, as directed by the first lady through the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Ini Adiakpan, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet allegedly brought buses filled with women from across different local government areas in the state to the venue of the event to disrupt it and embarrass the First Lady of the state.
It was gathered that both the Commissioner for Women Affairs and the First lady found the action of the Agriculture Commissioner unpleasant, thereby did everything possible to cut her off from the programme.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Ini Adiakpan, who didn’t find Dr. Edet’s action reasonable, approached her and inquired from her the meaning of her actions, But instead of calming the situation, that intervention erupted into a rowdy argument and exchange of words between Dr. Glory Edet who was supported by her sister, and Mrs. Ini Adiakpan.
Crisis however started when the women were to do a match parade and Edet was trying to ensure her people were also allowed to join the procession. Her supporters were rebuffed from taking part and this led to crisis.
After several physical assault and verbal combat, security operatives acting on the order of Mrs Emmanuel bundled the Agric Commissioner out the event as the whole event had become chaotic.
Her attempt to smuggle herself onto the podium by using the back to get to her seat against the directive of the governor’s wife, was again scuttled by the security operatives who blocked her and again dragged her away from the event ground
The First Lady who felt highly embarrassed left the venue of the event midway into activities and the event stopped abruptly due to the rancour Edet caused.
When the first lady left, people from Onna who felt that the wife of their son was not accorded due respect as the First Lady of the state, descended on the women that Edet hired to the event and more blows were exchanged, they were advancing toward beating up Edet but she was rescued and spirited away by her security guards.
When contacted, the deputy speaker of the State House of Assembly, Princess Felicia Bassey, politely declined to speak on the matter.
The commissioner for Women Affairs Dr Ini Adiakpan neither answered calls nor responded to the text messages sent to her on the matter.
Dr Glory Edet’s Airtel number was switched by 4 pm that calls were put across to her. Courtesy (culled from Daily Sun report).
