By Solomon Okpo
UYO, The paramount ruler of Ibibio land, Oku Ibom Ibibio, was on Friday installed as the Grand Patron of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, in a ceremony described as historic and symbolic of the unity and resilience of the Ibibio people.
Chairman of the occasion and Attah of Eket, Chief Nduese Essien, commended the organisation for its enduring legacy since its establishment in 1987, noting that Mboho has played a significant role in preserving Ibibio culture, empowering youths, and fostering development through schools, farms, cooperatives, and hospitality ventures.
Chief Essien lauded the choice of Oku Ibom Ibibio as Grand Patron, describing it as “an alignment of traditional leadership with the aspirations of our people” and recognition of the monarch’s role in guiding the Ibibio nation toward unity, moral integrity, and progress.
He urged Ibibio youths to embrace their culture, language, and traditions with pride, while calling on Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio to grow beyond cultural celebrations into a formidable voice in national discourse. According to him, the organisation, dominated by Akwa Ibom’s middle class and intellectuals, must “steer youths away from indiscipline, cultism, and disdain for elders” and advocate for fairness, justice, and sustainable development.
On the political front, the Attah of Eket cautioned against turning Mboho into a platform for partisan interests, insisting that it should retain the courage to “speak truth to power” and defend the dignity of the Ibibio people.
He also used the occasion to raise alarm over renewed attempts at land grabbing in Ibibio territory disguised as agitation for state creation. Tracing the history of such disputes from as far back as 1916 through legal battles, wars, and even proposals at the 2014 National Conference, Essien warned that “any attempt to appropriate Ibibio land under the guise of creating another state must be vehemently rejected at all times.”
The elder statesman charged Mboho and other sociocultural groups in the state to embrace unity over tribal rivalry, urging them to focus on securing a fair share of national resources and contributing meaningfully to Akwa Ibom’s development.
The installation ceremony, which brought together traditional leaders, government officials, and Ibibio sons and daughters from across the world, was seen as a reaffirmation of cultural pride and commitment to the future of the Ibibio nation.
