Aggrieved Akwa Ibom monarchs call for reversal of TRC law

Some traditional rulers in Akwa Ibom have threatened to boycott meetings of monarchs presided over by the Oku Ibom Ibibio, HRM Eteyin Solomon Etuk, over controversy trailing the amended Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council law.

The amended law, which has generated disaffection among the Ibibio, Annang, Obolo and Oro ethnic groups in the state, grants perpetual headship of the new Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers on the Ibibio, the majority ethnic group in the state.

Consequently, aggrieved traditional rulers of Annang, Oro and Obolo rejected the law, insisting that the office of the President-General of Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers must rotate among all the ethnic groups in the state.

In a communique issued after an enlarged meeting on Sunday in Ikot Ekpene, they threatened to boycott all events, meetings and activities presided over by the Oku Ibom Ibibio, HRM Eteyin Solomon Etuk.

The communique 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, “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 Akwa Ibom 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”.

They urged the state governor to reverse the law in the interest of peace and unity of all ethnic groups in the state.

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