Efio-Ita Nyok|8 August 2017
Embattled social change agent, Joseph Odok, has replied the Cross River State Deputy Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Kalita Joe Aruku, over the latter's remark bordering on anti-party activities alleging that some power centers in the APC have set him up.
According to Aruku, Odok is the architect of his present predicament though he did not demonstrate how the latter was the origin of his problems, 'The truth is always what I will tell you. You have remained the proponent of your problems yet you are looking for people to blame.
'You claim you are in APC yet you are already campaigning for a PDP man to go to the Senate in 2019. Are u saying APC do not have credible people for that position? That is anti-party activity, and if you are disciplined you will start accusing people of been the cause of your predicament.'
What follows is Odok's response:
'Kalita Joe Aruku you talk of my problem about what? My problem of committing what offense under the laws of State? I am no coward. I laugh when you guys say you want to help me.
'I was framed up and accused gathering arms and ammunitions and inciting the public against the University of Calabar and what did your revered APC that I have been dying for do? I was kept in prison for 2 days and how many of you cared. I bless God for Barr Mary Ekpere, she showed much care to be fair to her. Your likes and Inyali Peter will be gossiping me behind door.
'You tell me of how stubborn I am yet have not convicted me of any offence. You are trying to help me and I was in prison custody and called some national and state leaders who avoided my calls?
I have been on suspension for three months by way of intimidation and your likes are celebrating my woes? I trained myself without APC, got job without APC, was suspended by set up by some APC stakeholders.
'I am gradually seeing deeper than before now. I am not in any problem than some attempts by people to crumble me and my finances. If my innocence can't safe me I will accept anything if it be my reward for being in APC. Most of you guys are worst of than those you criticize. I am not moving out of APC, you will not hear me compromised.
'There is a calculated attempt by some of you to blackmail. Your association of haters can go on I am waiting for the worst. All you guys want is to keep me off Facebook and I bet you I will not.
In an earlier development, an APC stalwart in the state and former aide on National Contact and Strategy to Cross River State Governor, Chief Ray Ugba Morphy, had made a similar position as that of Aruku. According to Morphy, Odok was his worst enemy alleging that he lacked social intelligence, antagonistic to elders and impetuous. He made this point in an open letter to Odok (and this may have been the beginning of the diatribe against Odok). His words, 'I am constrained to address this memo to you publicly this Sunday, a day of the Lord because I had addressed you privately to no avail.
'You are learned, you are a PhD but sir, I think you are your own worst enemy. You lack social intelligence, you antagonize those who seek to help you, you stumble from one problem to another simply because you don't consider matters deeply before you speak or write. In other words sir, you are impestous.
'Why are you bent on antagonizing everyone? Why do you name as enemies people who intercede on your behalf? Why are you washing your own dirty linen in public? Why are you making enemies of your comrades and party men? You don't need to do what you are doing please. You have so much potential, you are young, you are intelligent, why are you bent on self immolation?
'In psychology, we speak of persecution complex. Thankfully, you just penned an apology, but less than two hours later, you open another salvo. You had sent me a message asking me to guide you when you go wrong but you have not heeded my guidance.
'I myself had advised you to make things easy, I myself had advised you to go on an introspection retreat. I can no longer keep quiet while you work hard to destroy yourself.
'Please Joseph, hold your brakes before it is too late. As an elder, I cannot sit by and watch you do this to your own self. Please, consider and hold yourself. Thank you'.
While there are some points these APC members may have made, I am still at a lost why all the blame is heaped on Odok. For crying out loud, Odok is an academic and as such should enjoy freedom of speech —that is the hallmark of the academia world over!
However, that does not translate to making unfounded statements in public. That is to say, if Odok has expressed libel and made expressions he isn't supposed to make there's an administrative machinery in place in the University of Calabar to deal with that: it's over two months since he was suspended and queried and it would interest you to know that he hasn't defended his case before any panel? The APC isn't talking about that, they are talking of his shutting up.
I have told him, when he is through with this experience, he should have learnt his lessons with the APC in Cross River State. But, it seems some of us don't learn anything from history!
This is Odok's crime, where I agree with some of his critics, that he does not know how to write? If Odok must write, he should do that with caution: you can't fight every Tom, Dickson and Harry especially when you don't have the individual might to do so? Select your fight brotherly and let there be peace with some of your hypocritical friends
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven
