Eket, Akwa Ibom State Stakeholders of Ekid Nation in Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas have firmly rejected the Akwa Ibom State Government’s proposed Committee on Stubbs Creek Forest, describing it as “spurious, unnecessary and suspicious.”
At an expanded meeting held on August 22, 2025, at the Atan Palace of the Paramount Ruler of Eket, traditional rulers, political leaders, community representatives, and elders unanimously condemned the initiative. They argued that the committee undermines numerous binding court judgments, including those of the Privy Council in London between 1916 and 1918, as well as statutes of the legislature affirming Ekid ownership of the forest.
“The proposed committee has no legitimate basis. It is nothing but an avenue to cover up illegal land deals and possibly extract further concessions for Ibeno,” the stakeholders declared in a communiqué signed by their leaders.
Tracing the history of concessions made to the Ibeno people, the Ekid leaders recalled that the latter were originally granted swampy land along the Qua Iboe River estuary in the 18th century for fishing activities, and later, dry land for burials. They noted that subsequent concessions in 1945, 2001, and 2008 were made out of goodwill but have since been abused through repeated encroachments.
“After all these concessions, Ekid people will no longer cede an inch of Stubbs Creek Forest. It historically and legally belongs to us,” the communiqué read.
The stakeholders further accused successive government officials of using Ibeno as a smokescreen to facilitate questionable land transactions. They insisted that only the implementation of existing court rulings and the demolition of illegal structures in Stubbs Creek would guarantee peace and fairness.
Drawing a parallel, the leaders likened the situation to the Supreme Court judgment that ceded 77 oil wells to Akwa Ibom against Cross River State, stressing that just as no federal committee could reverse that judgment, no state committee can override rulings of the highest courts on Stubbs Creek.
Prominent signatories to the communiqué included His Majesty Edidem E. C. D. Abia, Paramount Ruler of Eket; His Highness Eteudo Ikot, Clan Head of Eket Offiong; Chief Nduese Essien, former Minister of the Federal Republic; Prof. Etie Ben Akpan; Obongawan Grace Ikot; Engr. Bassey Itama; Dr. Samuel Udonsak; Hon. Bassey Dan Abia; Sir Udojiu Udoyiu; and other leaders of the Ekid People Union (EPU) and Ekid Integrity Forum.
The Ekid Nation vowed to resist any further balkanisation of Stubbs Creek Forest, calling instead for transparency, justice, and respect for the rule of law.
