The recent political developments in our dear state has given rise to so many things.One of such is the formation and inauguration of a new group called “Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio” last month.
The group, according to those who formed it intend to replace it the age-long Ifim Ibom Ibibio and have it stand as the supreme council of Ibibio nation. Ordinarily, it would not be odd to ignore the fore-goings in the group, but when considering it leadership compositions, it becomes pertinent to question the rationale behind their action.
There are lots of questions begging to be answered by the founders, some of which are the purpose and interest of the group. Is this group a political, cultural or pressure group? What really informed the formation of this group?Is it a political platform to fight and return power back to Ibibio come 2015? If that is the aim, what about Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Ifim Ibom Ibibio, Ibibio Elders Forum, Utuenikang Ibibio and others that are supposed to fight the Ibibio course?
From the roll call of Paramount Rulers, and Clan Heads who attended the event, one can easily conclude that most of the Paramount Rulers and Clan Heads from Ibibio extraction endorsed the group except, the Paramount Ruler of Onna, Akwa Edidem Dr. Akpabio Udo Ukpa who is currently the Oku Ibom Ibibio III and custodian of Ifim Ibom Ibibio stool.
In their separate remarks at the event, they said that the government of Godswill Akpabio has pushed the Ibibio’s to the gutter and seriously marginalized the Ibibio stock, and for that reason they have decided to come together and form a unifying force to fight for the return of power to Uyo Senatorial District come 2015.
It is very interesting to know that these were the same people who told the Ibibio’s in 2010 that Governor Godswill Akpabio was much detribalized than one can ever imagine, spreading appointments and developmental projects evenly across the entire state. Because of this, they took the governor to Assan Ibibio and endorsed him for a second term in office after collecting an undisclosed amount from the governor. The question is; are they just realizing now that governor Akpabio has marginalized the Ibibio’s? Why did they silently milk millions from the governor only to trumpet marginalization using Ibibio syndrome as a cover, who is fooling who?
They want us to believe that they are fighting the Ibibio course when they are actually fighting for their selfish interest. Any community or institution where everybody wants to be king always end up not having anything. And any society where so-called leaders think more about themselves alone does not progress.
It is in Ibibio land that everybody wants to be King and Ruler by all means and at all cost. As one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, we don’t have a formidable institution that can speak with authority for the Ibibio’s without any descending voice.
The so-called leaders of petty groups in Ibibio have suddenly become political vultures; speaking on both sides of their mouth. They are now seen as cash and carry people. How then will politicians respect royal fathers when they have condescended from their exalted throne of respect to mere political coordinators for aspirants of their choice?
Politicians are now using Paramount Rulers, Clan and Village Heads as their coordinators. This is very sad in our land. Now that these groups have failed Ibibio people; is it the Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio that will salvage the situation? The answer is capital No! This is another way of defrauding the Ibibio’s again.
They are in a mission to ensure that the Etinan Paramount ruler, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette who is the chairman of the group has his own group where he will make money from as the 2015 election draws near, since he could not succeed in his bid to forcefully dethrone Akpabio Udo Ukpa as Oku Ibom Ibibio III and enthrone himself as the Oku Ibom the III. I salute the foresight of those politicians who saw that Edidem Umoette who is also the general overseer of Divine African Church is politically jobless after he lost the Ifim Ibom Ibibio struggle to Edidem Ukpa.
Since the likes of Dr Okon Akpan Uko of Ibibio Elders Forum and Ntisong Essien Ekidem of Akwa Esop Ima Isong Ibibio are coordinators of their own groups that will be consulted by governorship aspirants, they thought it wise to form Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio for their co-vulture, Edidem Umoette.
The Ibibio’s should be very careful of these men, they are out to take their last chances and enrich themselves in the name of fighting the Ibibio course. Ibibio people must shine their eye and look well before they leap because these men as much as we know them, they have no integrity, reputation or character.
Permit me to say that the birth of Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio was as a result of Edidem Umoette’s inability to succeed in the struggle for Ifim Ibom Ibibio stool which started with the late Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium, Edidem Robert James Obot who vowed to die with Ifim Ibom Ibibio stool instead of allowing Akpabio Udo Ukpa who was the rightful successor of Usonyin Okon Ekpoekpo of Ibesikpo Asutan. After the death of Edidem Obot, Edidem Ime Umoette continued the struggle until the court finally put an endto the matter when it was decided in favour of Akpabio Udo Ukpa. That judgement ended the selfish ambition of Edidem Umoette whose plan was to turn Ifim Ibom Ibibio into a political group.
Ifim Ibom Ibibio is the supreme council and voice Ibibio traditional institutions, and cannot be replaced by any group who call themselves Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio.
We know that these men are only self-centred persons trying to go under the cover of Ibibio agitation to deceive unsuspecting members of the public. This group can best be described and seen as a team of desperate and frustrated politicians who are in search of a second chance to steal and enrich themselves.
With the likes of Edidem Ime Umoette, Udo Usoro Inyang, Edem Silas Akpan, Edet Akpan Inyang, Udo Inyang Obok, and Nsobom E. B Ekanem who were in the unjust struggle for Oku Ibom Ibibio stool, it is a clear that they are not leaders. Until these Paramount Rulers cum political coordinators explain to Ibibio people what happened to the Ifim Ibom Ibibio we know, they will always be seen as jokers. They cannot with all amount of honesty say that they are fighting the Ibibio course. Thank God Bishop Samuel Akpan of Eket Senatorial district was there as an Ibibio man and is also interested in contesting the 2015 governorship election.
They want to fight and enthrone their own candidate whom they will benefit from,and not for the interest of Ibibio people so that they can remain relevant and useful in the next government.
If they are truly fighting for the Ibibio’s; why are they against an Ibibio son from Onna in Eket Senatorial District? Are they then fighting to return power to Uyo Senatorial District after their eventful 8 years? That will be too greedy. It is true that what is morally wrong cannot be politically right no matter how we see it, unless with people like Edidem Ime Umoette, Essien Ekidem, and their group. They should come out openly and make their stand known and not try to attract unnecessary sympathy by crying Ibibio because everybody knows they stand for Uyo Senatorial District.
Our traditional shrine, Assan Ibibio have suffered all kinds of abuse in the hands of these jobbers who call themselves paramount rulers. This ugly development must stop if Ibibio should regain it pride of place in the comity of nations. Ifim Ibom Ibibio, the custodian of Ibibio traditions which is the voice of Ibibio nation must take charge and function the way it should be, while every other groups is subject to it.
If the 2015 governorship is to be about the Ibibios, then there should not be any sentiment attached to it. They should unselfishly allow an Ibibio son from Eket Federal constituency to emerge the next governor of the state come 2015 for equity, fair-play and justice. Otherwise they must tell us the true definition of justice.
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