By Solomon OKPO
The Ekid Unity Forum (EUF), a socio-cultural organization of the Ekid Nation, has condemned what it described as a “reckless abuse of traditional authority” following a viral video showing three paramount rulers performing a so-called “traditional summons” on Princess God’sown Udoito in Esit Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
The video, which surfaced on social media, captured monarchs in the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket, HRM Edidem Ubong Peter Assam, directing Princess Udoito to appear before the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) in Uyo on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
According to the emissaries, her alleged “offences” included handling a sacred item known as Ayoi, pouring libation, and making statements critical of Governor Umo Eno over the controversial ceding of Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve — ancestral land of the Ekid people — to private interests.
Those identified in the footage include His Majesty Akuku J. J. Obosi, Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam; His Majesty Edidem Ita E. Okokon, Paramount Ruler of Okobo; and His Majesty Edidem Clement Ekpenyong, Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan.
However, in a swift rebuttal, the Paramount Ruler of Eket, His Majesty Edidem E. C. D. Abia, ATTAH I of Ekid Nation, disowned the emissaries, describing their mission as “illegal, unauthorized and unknown to the TRC.”
“The paramount rulers that visited Esit Eket were not sent and do not represent the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council. At no time has the TRC held any meeting to discuss Princess God’sown Udoito, nor scheduled any summons for September 25, 2025,” Edidem Abia clarified.
This denial, according to EUF, raises disturbing questions about who sponsored the mission, what the real motives were, and whether political interests were at play.
In a strongly worded statement, the Forum said:
“Traditional institutions must restrict themselves to peacemaking and preservation of heritage, not serve as instruments of intimidation to silence citizens demanding justice over the Stubbs Creek land dispute.”
The group demanded an immediate investigation into the conduct of the three monarchs, sanctions if found culpable, and a public disassociation of the TRC from the incident. It also urged the state government to respect existing court rulings on the disputed land.
“Ekid Unity Forum stands firm: no amount of intimidation, political manipulation, or pseudo-traditional theatrics will silence the Ekid Nation in its quest for justice and protection of ancestral lands,” the statement concluded.
