By Solomon OKPO, Uyo.
UYO , Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ibibio ethnic nationality, has declared its full support for the President-General of the Ekid People’s Union (EPU), Dr. Samuel Udonsak, over his recent comments on the proposed Oro-Obolo State, insisting that the Oro ethnic nationality has no direct Atlantic coastline and that no portion of Ibibio ancestral land should be ceded for the proposed state.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the organisation held in Uyo, where prominent Ibibio elders reviewed what they described as “misleading and provocative” statements attributed to the Oro Union. The communiqué was jointly signed by the Ntisong IV of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, Obong P. J. Okon, and the Secretary-General, Mkpisong Obong Tony Okpon.
According to the organisation, Dr. Udonsak merely restated the long-established position of the Ibibio people during his address at the inauguration of the 12th International President and Executive Council of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio International on July 24. It maintained that historical records, official maps and judicial pronouncements have never recognised the Oro Nation as a littoral community with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Akwa Esop alleged that the agitation for the proposed Oro-Obolo State was intended to annex parts of Southern Ibibio ancestral lands in order to establish territorial continuity with Eastern Obolo and secure access to the Atlantic coastline. It warned that any attempt to alter existing territorial boundaries would isolate the Ibibio from the Atlantic coast and negatively impact the economic interests of Akwa Ibom State.
The organisation also condemned what it described as personal attacks against Dr. Udonsak, stressing that his remarks reflected the collective position consistently presented by Akwa Esop in memoranda submitted to the National Assembly during constitutional amendment and state creation exercises.
While affirming the constitutional right of the Oro, Obolo and Ibeno peoples to pursue the creation of a state, it insisted that no village, community or land belonging to any Ibibio Local Government Area should be included in the proposed Oro-Obolo State.
Akwa Esop further maintained that historical and legal evidence established the Ibibio as the indigenous owners of ancestral lands in Esit Eket, Eket, Onna, Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin Local Government Areas. It also dismissed allegations that the Oro ethnic nationality had been politically marginalised in Akwa Ibom State, arguing that records of political representation and public appointments did not support such claims.
On the issue of the state’s governorship, the organisation stated that the rotation of the office among Akwa Ibom’s three senatorial districts remains a political convention and should not be interpreted to mean that the governorship must automatically be occupied by an Oro indigene whenever it rotates to Eket Senatorial District.
The communiqué concluded with a call for restraint, urging all parties to embrace dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful engagement, while avoiding statements capable of inflaming ethnic tension or undermining the unity and stability of Akwa Ibom State.
