MARTHA EMMANUEL UDOM – ‘AFANG’ FOR THE LADY

You know, because of this, my new play, IBIOM, I have been traversing the length and breadth of my homeland Akwa Ibom in the last month. I have rediscovered Akwa Ibom in a way that has made me very very proud of my heritage. The food, the people, the development going on there. I have even gone to reclaim my ancestral land hitherto dashed the community to see if I can start some form of farming. In my journey through the state, what has really touched me has been the first lady’s work, especially in two areas - rape and shelter. All Local Governments have been touched by her message, and I must say when the Chief Press secretary gave me magazines and materials showing the work, I just took it as one of those things. As I no want annoy the madam, I collect the book and put for my bag say I go use am kill mosquitoes when I reach Anyiam Nsit, my village. But as I got there and in an engagement with the community leaders, the work of madam was mentioned, I sat up. My village head talked glowingly about the First lady’s people’s engagement on rape in the community without prompting. This made me sit up. When I got to Ibeno, my mother’s village, I engaged a councillor cousin Nse who also confirmed what I had heard in Anyiam. In this guise, I will seek Governor Udom to invite Her Excellency on a date anywhere of her choice in Uyo to discuss her work extensively to say thank you. Before I shoot my mouth and kill my bank account, let’s do the Castle at Ewet Housing, the afang there is exciting and delicious, but much more important it is very cheap. Mbok I ate afang at one place, I will not mention the name, and they gave me a bill of N6,700 plus vat. Afang in Uyo. Kai, madam, let’s do the Ewet Housing and please come with only one person o except you will pay for the entourage. Me, I cannot shout.