TRC law: Aggrieved Monarchs Urge Umo Eno To Reverse Obnoxious Law, Resolves To Boycott Meetings Under Oku Ibom Ibibio

The traditional rulers of Annang, Obolo and Oro ethnic groups have resolved to boycott all meetings and activities presided over by the Oku Ibom Ibibio, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, over the controversy surrounding the amended Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council law.

They also urged the state governor, Umo Eno, to reverse the law in the interest of peace and unity of all ethnic nationalities.

The amended law, which has generated disaffection among the ethnic nationalities in the state, grants perpetual headship of the new Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers on the Ibibio.

The aggrieved traditional rulers of Annang, Oro and Obolo reiterated their stance on the issue by rejecting the law and insisting on a rotational arrangement for the office of the President-General of Supreme of Traditional Rulers among all ethnic groups in the state.

In a communique issued at an enlarged meeting at the Ati Annang International Secretariat, Ikot Ekpene, on October 16, 2023, the monarchs resolved to boycott all meetings and activities presided over by the occupant of the office of the President-General of Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, if the law was not reversed.

The communique was signed by Chief Okon Udofia for the Obolos, Ovong Efiong Unanaowo for Oro and Okuku Prof. Amanam Udo for Annang, among others.

It reads in parts, “That the traditional Rulers Council and indeed the good people of the Annang, Oro, and Obolo Nationalities both at home and in the diaspora refuse to recognise and accept the permanency and supremacy of the President-General of the Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers as presently constituted with the Oku Ibom Ibibio as the occupant in perpetuity except such is amended to give equal opportunity to all ethnic nationalities and on a rotational two (2) years period as it was before now.

“The Converge directs that no member of the Traditional Rulers Council from the Annang, Oron, and Obolo Nationalities shall attend any meeting, event, function of any sort presided over by the Oku Ibom Ibibio as the President-General of the Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Ruler. Whoever that flouts this resolution shall be traditionally sanctioned in accordance with our customs and traditions.

“The Converge gladly accept the authorisation and instructions of our people from Annang, Oron, and Obolo ethnic nationalities in Akwa Ibom State to take all necessary legal and constitutional actions against what we all consider a deliberate effort at the obliteration of our ethnic groups as intended by recently amended Traditional Laws of the State, which has suddenly turned a once very peaceful State into a fragmented society built on ethnic blocs with capacity for a breakdown of law and order in the state.”