Apostle Dr. James Okrok, JP

The just concluded pilgrimage to Israel has occupied much of my meditating moments. The frills and anxieties, especially the discoveries that made Bible texts as real as the blue morning skies, brightened by the rising sun, have kept me trapped with ecstatic relish of what it was when the greatest of all men, Lord Jesus Christ, walked those paved paths.
Ever since I returned from that trip to Jerusalem, I must confess that my first experience and experiment in the holyland have been a library of information and I have been reviewing notes upon notes to update my knowledge of Bible history, as someone saddled with responsibility to teach others.
But Friday 3rd February, 2023, a piece of writing caught my attention and I found it very interesting. It was a post from the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok. I also listenned to his voice note on one of the media platforms, as follow up to his earlier comments, where he took upon himself the role of washing pigs so they could become clean but very sad, they will always return to the mire.
The noble gentleman architect was passionately arguing in defence of the current status of ACA and the decision she has taken (or not yet taken as the architect was deceived to believe) in the current political equation.
To be kind, Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok does not know much of the subject he has delved into or at best, he has half information - those he has surrounded himself with do not tell him the truth. In fact, they are worst than shrewd politicians who would vow to build bridges in a landlocked community, when they know the people don't need bridges there.
If Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok was told the truth about ACA's formation and her principles, then he would have understood the main reason behind the desperation of the president of ACA to enthrone a cultist governor, against Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Fathers of Faith's stance, I submit that this noble architect, who has contributed a lot to build the Nigerian state and especially Akwa Ibom State, would have long ago, distanced himself from the wolves he has surrounded himself with in the estranged Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly.
I will take on few aspects that the ADC guber candidate touched on. I'm doing so in deference to him because I have great regards for him, even though he has admitted he wants to swirl in the mire with pigs to muddle his stainless political career in the merciless quagmire ad infinitum. Who will bail out Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok before he soils his good name? When did Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok, an honourable professional in housing development and a social security exponent, descend so low to become a spokesman for Archbishop Cletus Bassey and ACA?
As I write this, I'm seriously fighting back tears because this intelligent grey-headed son of the great Annang nation has allowed himself to be hoodwinked by the cassock-wearing, suave-talking swanky archbishop. Doesn't the architect know that the archbishop is climbing on his reputation to keep few poorly informed people around him?
I'm saddened by my kinsman's bravery in public defence of the indefensible, all because he wants to get the support of Archbishop Cletus Bassey and his infamous ACA for his election on March 11, 2023. Believing in the archbishop is like leaning on a broken staff. If this clergyman can betray Governor Udom Emmanuel, betray his fellow clergymen, betray the Fathers of Faith, including those who raised him up, like the eminent Papa Elijah Akpan Mboho, then who can he not betray?
Let me come back to few issues you raised in your write up and voice note. You said you have been a member of ACA from inception. This is not correct, you only started hobnobbing with ACA last year when Archbishop Cletus Bassey was looking for a few credible people to appear in his meetings. Then he started inviting you and Engr. James Iniama to his meetings. But James Iniama later reclined after realizing it was all a gimmick to milk him.
In case you were not told the truth, ACA was formed in 2017 personally by Governor Udom Emmanuel. The archbishop knew nothing about it until he was invited and handed the presidency of ACA since he just ended his second term as CAN Chairman, Akwa Ibom State chapter.
As a member of the immediate past CAN administration, some of my colleagues then had opposed ACA's formation, as it was perceived as a parallel body to rival CAN. It took some while before the leadership of CAN then understood the role ACA was set up to play before it supported it. It was a risky adventure then because the archbishop had already lost the confidence of the Christian body.
Given his antecedents in betraying people, he wouldn't have been the right person to preside over ACA but sometimes you have to stoop to win. Even at that, his character of betrayal soon manifested. He betrayed Governor Udom Emmanuel whoopingly and ran away to the US during the battle for second term election, he only returned three months after that election.
Why did he run? He collected much money from APC, leveraging his closeness to Rev. Mrs. Angela Ashong who had had strong ties with Senator Godswill Akoabio's wife, to reach Mr. Nsima Ekere. When the bubble burst, he fled.
Having registered ACA with himself as president, and knowing he will never be taken seriously by those he betrayed, he was to later bundle Rev. Mrs. Angela Ashong along to sign an undertaken with Senator Bassey Albert. Since he lost favour with Governor Udom Emmanuel - who was funding the operations of ACA - he must survive, so he sold the group to Senator Bassey Albert.
The senator who was delighted to have ACA's backing, immediately doled out millions to the archbishop who immediately rented an appartment for ACA in a posh part of Ewet Housing Estate, lavishly furnished it, staffed it, but the archbishop in his evasive manner lied that the apartment was rented through contribution of funds by the LGA coordinators. As I'm writing, I can boldly say that none of the 31 LGA coordinators contributed a penny. Is lying now becoming a norm for this clergyman?
Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok should now realize that the archbishop he is defending in the media space has no regards for a gentleman's agreement. As far money is concerned, he tills in its pull. Why he still holds onto OBA is because no other candidate has given him more than what he got from the senator.
The archbishop has never denied that he got millions from OBA. He is only denying that he hasn't named any candidate yet, even though heaven and earth have borne witness that OBA is the person he has sold ACA to. Of course for him, the game is money.
In mid 2019 he returned from the US broke. The first thing he did was to sell his expansive land housing the Vision Theological Seminary at Nsukara Offot. It takes a man who is so broke to mortgage his historical heritage. Vision Theological Seminary at Ekamba Nsukara was the only surviving establishments to remember the archbishop's days as an apostle.
Vision Bible Seminary a decade ago was like a pilgrimage ground for some young bible students and budding gospel ministers. Selling it, just like he sold his sound and sight production studios, Lifetone Studios Limited, was in his desperate move to survive financially as he had lost out on government patronage.
Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok made it clear in his voice note that Archbishop Cletus Bassey never sat with him to discuss money. This is not true. Archbishop Cletus Bassey has said it countless times that whoever wants to be governor must consult ACA - that means money. ACA was never established to host political candidates on consultations.
The architect, it was widely reported consulted ACA and the archbishop with a huge amount and likewise others. What one should ask him is! Was ACA established to throw her doors open for political gains or was it established to help the indifferent Christian community find a platform to unite for good governance, the sustenance of peace and the emergence of an egalitarian society?
Now, who's funding ACA? I'm glad you know that OBA is funding ACA, then why did the archbishop say ACA had no candidate to support yet, why is he lying in the open and disgracing what was supposed to be a noble cause?
Do you not know that Archbishop Cletus Bassey is planning a major outing later this month where he will formally declare support for OBA and adopt him as ACA candidate for the 2023 elections? With this, do you not consider that all this while, the archbishop has been deceiving you? Or are you saying you will leave your noble cause and enviable niche you have carved for your distinguished self all these years, and collapse ADC into OBA's YPP once the archbishop announces OBA in the open this month or next? Answers left to be heard!
Now, why has Bishop Samuel Daniel, an attack dog of the archbishop who has been your key supporter now playing double standards by backing OBA against your interest? Why are members of ACA now leading YPP in sensitive positions? What is Apostle Nnyenime Andy doing in ACA now, after he left because he had a sharp disagreement with Archbishop Cletus Bassey in 2018? This same Nnyenime Andy once vowed to drive the archbishop away from town and make himself a leading priest in Akwa Ibom State but now a common ground both found in OBA has united them.
My amiable ADC guber candidate, these are happenings that you need to know and realize now or later that the archbishop is on a cosy roller coaster journey with you. He hasn't any genuine commitment to you, yet you have plowed in faith and resources. Sad!
The overt presence of YPP officials in ACA meetings should let you know that there is already alliance the two bodies have entered. Your continued romance with them indicates that you are allowing the archbishop to canole you to team up with OBA in a fight against Governor Udom Emmanuel. If this happens, then you will have done a great damage to your cherished noble character, reputation and integrity of several years. It's better you fight on the side of nobility and fail than join the regae beats of the leaf party to your most regretable outcome.
While I still hold you in very high regards for your tenacious sense of dedication and determination to ensure there's good governance, it will save our generation a note of kindness if you detach yourself from those whose sense of decency and morals is questionable.

- Okrok teaches in a seminary in Abia State, hails from Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State