By Emmanuel Uffot
The dust raised by some traditional rulers over the amended Traditional Rulers Council Law which nullified the rotation of the stool of the Chairman Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in the state, may have been laid to rest yesterday if the resolution arrived at by the Paramount Rulers after their meeting with Governor Umo Eno over the TRC law is anything to go by.
At the meeting held yesterday at the instance of the Governor at the Exco Chambers of the Governor’s office, Governor Eno put the record straight about the contentious law which he said was not necessary,since it is something that could be resolved amicably without any hue and cry that is threatening the peace and unity the state. ” This meeting is another step in my earnest desire to make peace where there is war and infuse love where hatred abounds. I do this conscious of the fact that we are brothers not enemies; friends, not foes; coming from a treasured heritage and having a shared glorious future”.
” As the Governor of this state, a mandate popularly obtained through the will of the people and the endorsement of God Almighty; and a Pastor by calling, I cannot and will not allow strife to persist, and if you check, that it has persisted, is not of my making”.
The Governor recall the genesis of the amended law which he stressed was a product of his predecessor and the Paramount Rulers were in the meeting. Where the section documents of the law to make the Oku Ibom Ibibio the Supreme leader for life in order to be at par with his counterpart in other states was brought to the table but there was no dissent by the Paramount Rulers including those of the Annang, Oron and Eastern Obolo that are now at the forefront of the aggrieved.
” Recall also that there has been President’s General position created from 2021 and occupied by the Oku Ibom Ibibio, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk CFR. We can also sincerely recall that there was no comment, except one, from the Paramount Ruler of Itu. Thereafter, having assented to the law passed by the House of Assembly, I became aware of the protestations by some Paramount Rulers, and I immediately stood down the inauguration, rather invited them from r a meeting points of those affected and for us to collectively reach a decision favourable to all. I waited for hours without the affected Paramount Rulers showing up for the meeting. Had that meeting held, all of these tensions would not have arisen in the first place. But you, our traditional fathers, whose office is established by law, appointed and funded by government, refused to attend the meeting or communicate your intended absence to me. Rather, you preferred to gather in clusters at politically sponsored settings to make very provocative statements against Government and her officials.
Despite this obviously provocative response, I still offered an olive branch on Sunday, 24th September, at the State Thanksgiving service, where I asked that I be invited to your meeting so that we can discuss, since you spurned my invitation. Till today, I have not received any invitation from you, rather, I have read very inciting, provocative and inflammatory press releases, interviews and the sort.
Today, I invited you to come let’s reason together, express our fears, concerns and demands in an atmosphere of brotherhood and unity, not acrimony and strife. I am calling on you to drop sentiments and let us discuss objectively in order to reach solutions that will help us not just today, but the generations unborn. As a leader, I have been very careful with the things I have said since this challenge surfaced because words are powerful and like a shot arrow, once spoken, cannot be retrieved. I am here informing you of my readiness to have this conversation with you and to walk with you on the path that must lead to the destination of peace and unity. But there is however an existing impediment- the law suit filed on this matter. With the pendency of this law suit, any in-depth discussion or intervention therein will be subjudice. Therefore, I urge you to remove this legal obstacle, cease all media and politically motivated media wars and return here let us amicably resolve this issue, to the satisfaction of all”, the Governor stated.
The Governor reminded the royal fathers of their primary duties of their office which is to promote peace in their domain.
Indeed after the meeting which we gathered was held at a friendly atmosphere, the Paramount Rulers who had met on the instance of the Oku Ibom Ibibio Ntenyin ( Dr) Solomon Etuk to discuss the issue and take a position came up with a 12-point Communique signed by the 18 royal fathers below.
A JOINT STATEMENT BY PARAMOUNT RULERS FROM THE THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS OF AKWA IBOM STATE ON THE AMENDED TRADITIONAL RULERS LAW, CAP. 155 OF 2022.*
We, the Paramount Rulers, drawn from the three Senatorial Districts of Akwa Ibom State, to wit, Akwa Ibom North East (UYO); Akwa Ibom South (EKET) and Akwa Ibom North West (IKOT EKPENE) wish to formally react and put the record straight on the amended Traditional Rulers Law, Cap.155 of 2022.
1. First of all, may we formally express our heartfelt appreciation to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno for assenting to the amended Traditional Rulers Law, Cap. 155 of 2022; as passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. We equally extend our appreciation to the 7th Assembly for commencing the amendment processes and members of the 8th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for the passage of the law.
2. In effect, the amended Law, which brought forth Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, has enhanced the prestige of the State Traditional Institution, thus situating our own appropriately at the realms of nobility as obtained in other parts of Nigeria.
3. We stand therefore, individually and collectively, to categorically affirm the correctness of the amended Traditional Rulers Law, Cap. 155 of 2022.
4. It would therefore be most dishonourable and unexpected of us as Royal Fathers to renounce or fake ill knowledge of what we all knew about and willingly accepted.
5. In the light of this sacred fact, we totally disassociate ourselves from the inappropriate, misguided and unwholesome reactions orchestrated through protests, law suit and public statements against the amended Traditional Rulers Law, Cap 155 of 2022.
6. Furthermore, it is to our chagrin to see the unpatriotic activities of some highly placed political figures who have decided to introduce uncharitable dimensions into a purely traditional matter. We kindly appeal to them to retrace their steps. Enough is enough of sowing discord between Ibibio, Annang, Oron and others.
7. We wish therefore to urge our Royal Colleagues to tread the path of honour and avoid going against their oath of office and oath of allegiance to the Government of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. It must be noted that the sanctity of our traditional institution should not be traded or compromised at the altar of politics.
8. It must be pointed out that His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, JP, CFR has effectively assumed office as President General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in perpetuity, having been sworn in by the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State on September 23, 2023. Likewise, His Royal Majesty, Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, Paramount Ruler of Udung Uko Local Government Area has assumed office having been equally sworn into office as the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on September 23, 2023.
9. Those engaging in dishonourable acts against the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers should know that the swearing into offices of the President General and the Chairman have effects of Law and cannot therefore be wished away by mere pedestrian actions and vituperations.
10. We therefore congratulate and pledged our loyalty to the leadership of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers under the superintendency of His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, JP, CFR as President General and His Royal Majesty, Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, JP, Paramount Ruler of Udung Uko Local Government Area as the Chairman.
11. In conclusion, we urge the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Bassey Umo Eno, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and our distinguished sons and daughters at home and in Diaspora, to know that we totally accept the Amended Traditional Rulers Law, Cap. 155 of 2022 and the leadership as put in place on September 23, 2023.
12. We pledged our unalloyed loyalty to the government in line with our oath of office and oath of allegiance and will always defend the sanctity of the culture and traditions of our people.
Long live Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of traditional Rulers!
Long live Akwa Ibom State!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
We are:
1. His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon D. Etuk, JP, CFR
Oku Ibom Ibibio/President General, Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers
Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
2. HRM Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, JP, Eti Oyo Okpo
Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers
Paramount Ruler of Udung Uko LGA
(Akwa Ibom South)
3. HRM Okuku (Dr.) Ime Udousoro Inyang, JP,
Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
4. HRM Edidem Udo Joe Ntuk Obom XII
Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi LGA
(Akwa Ibom South)
5. HRM Edidem Elder (Dr.) Edet Akpan Inyang
Paramount Ruler of Itu LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
6. HRM Edidem Ubong Peter Assam
Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket LGA
(Akwa Ibom South)
7. HRM Ofong Odiong Edet Akan
Paramount Ruler of Oron LGA
(Akwa Ibom South)
8. HRM Edidem (Elder) Akpan Akpan Ekpene Akwa Enin
Paramount Ruler of Mkpat Enin LGA
(Akwa Ibom South)
9. HRM Edidem Etim Charles Daniel Abia, FCA, Attah Ekid
Paramount Ruler of Eket LGA
(Akwa Ibom South)
10. HRM Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang
Paramount Ruler of ONNA LGA
(Akwa Ibom South)
11. HRM Edidem Clement Francis Ekpenyong
Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
12. HRM Edidem (Elder) Manasseh Simeon Akpan, JP
Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ibom LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
13. HRM Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon JP
Paramount Ruler of Uyo LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
14. HRM Edidem Peter Okon Effiong
Paramount Ruler of Nsit Atai LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
15. HRM Edidem Cosmas Bassey Nkanga
Paramount Ruler of Uruan LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East)
16. HRM Edidem Etim N. Itang,
Paramount Ruler of Ikono LGA
(Akwa Ibom North West)
17. HRM Edidem Udoete Edon
Paramount Ruler of Ini LGA
(Akwa Ibom North West)
18. HRM Edidem Aniefiok Monday Akpanobong
Paramount Ruler of Etinan LGA
(Akwa Ibom North East).
It is instructive to note that among the aggrieved royal fathers from the Annang, Oron and Eastern Obolo extraction, while those from Oro nation were present and signed the Communique, those from Annang and Eastern Obolo may have boycotted the meeting as they did not signed.
Apart from the current fuse over the law, analysts argued that the people of Eastern Obolo may have still been nursing their apparent unabated anger over the perceived and alleged ceding a fraction of their law through the remapping law which generated rancour that snowballed into violence with their neighbouring local governments of Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin. This in addition to this law followers assert may have caused their absence at the meeting.
For those from Annang extraction, speculations were going round that the Senate President Godswill Akpabio had called on Paramount Rulers of Annang extraction, to henceforth boycott all meetings call by the Oku Ibom Ibibio or the State Government until the TRC Law was reversed.
But the governor has promised, to revisit the law on the condition that royal fathers that went to court withdraw their case so any effort from him in resolving the issue would not be sub- judice.
