REACTION OF IBENO COMMUNITY
TO THE PUBLICATION ON PAGE 7 OF THE INK VOL. 2. 75 DATED TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST –
MONDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2014, CAPTIONED “PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY BELONGS TO EKID
NATION NOT IBENO – OKOIYAK LANDLORDS”
Our attention has been drawn to the publication on page 7 of The Ink Newspaper printed and published by Lens-Ink Media Communications,
Uyo in AKwa Ibom State under the caption “Petrochemical Industry site belongs
to Ekid Nation not Ibeno – Okoiyak Landlords”.
In the said publication, one Dr. Obioba Daniel Obioba alleged
to be chairman of the group of the so-called landlords of Okoiyak (Stubbs
Creek) who spoke under the aegis of Okoiyak Claimants Asociaiton, disclosed
that the land on which the Akwa Ibom State Government sites the petrochemical
industry belongs to Ekid Nation and not Ibeno.
The alleged statement credited to Dr. Obioba Daniel Obioba is
misleading and mischievous and portrays a gross misrepresentation of the facts
surrounding the home land of Ibeno people as well as it is provocative in inciting.
For the avoidance of doubt and for the purpose of keeping the
records straight, the land in which the Petrochemical Industry is sited belongs
to Ibeno and not Ekid Nation. From historical facts, the Ibeno people are among
the earliest settlers on the Atlantic Coast where they have remained till
today. Historical facts and colonial documents have unequivocally confirmed
this assession. It is also on record
that most Eket villages takes their origin from Ibeno even though Eket people
maintain that they found themselves emerging from the ground to exist where
they are now. Ibeno people are primarily fishermen and they have maintained
that industry from the beginning of their life till now.
2. Ibeno
Local Government was created vide the Local Government Decree No 7. Of 1997,
CAP A61 Federal Republic of Nigeria Decree 1997, and before the creation, the
entire area of land occupied by the people of Ibeno have always been in
effective and total occupation, and control by them including the land on which
the petrochemical industry is sited. This recent claim by Dr. Obioba only
represents a mere figment of imagination of the alleged claimant, since it is
not supported by concrete facts on which a claim for title to land can be
based. A mere reference to suit No. FHC/UY/CS/53/2003 dated 19th October, 1998
and an alleged judgment arising therefrom is not enough. In any case it would
be preposterous to join issues with Dr. Obioba. However it is our intention to
refer the matter of this publication to our lawyers since there is a case in
the High Court of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in connection with the so called
“Okoiyak” land and all matters connected therewith are subjudice.
3. However
the Ibeno people cannot be intimidated when it comes to the issue of protecting
their land and they are absolutely confident in that all traditional and
colonial records at their disposal confirm that the land on which the
Petrochemical Industry is sited belong to them.
4. Indeed
it is proper to mention here and now that even the Gas Processing Facility
allegedly named after Uquo in Esit Eket is built on Ibeno Land. As one passes
from Uquo to Ibeno the cast excavation of sharp sand going along the road,
shortly after the Gas Processing Facility is carried out on Ibeno Land. These
show that Ibeno Community has great control of land along the axis leading to
the home-stead of the Esit Eket community of the Ekid Nationality. The Ibeno
people having appreciated the uncommon transformation of the Governor of Akwa
Ibom State reserve their right at an appropriate time to negotiate for
compensation in connection with the land on which the Gas Processing Facility
is sited.
5. Traditional
records coupled with Colonial Reports backed up by Maps, confirm that what is
called Esit Eket and Eket described more appropriately as ethnic Eket and all
their clans do not occupy lands up to Stubbs Creek area.
6. Indeed
by Spence Report and the Sketch Map attached thereto, there is a vast area of
Ibeno land separating Stubbs Creek from the lands of Esit Eket or ethnic Eket.
7. The
Ibeno forefatehrs ought to have been congratulated for their acts of
benevolence and magnanimity to have allowed the Eket forefathers to fish in the
Stubbs Creek in the olden days, it is pertinent to add here that the
insinuations bordering on ownership or otherwise of the so-called “Okoiyak
Land” could in this recent time militate against such benevolence and
magnanimity which was exhibited by Ibeno forefathers in favour of their
neighbours of Eket considering the challenges of today. The Ekets have never
fished in the open sea, all that they claim to fish had been with the use of
traps and “Ikpa” in the Stubbs Creek, with the permission of the Ibeno people
which today they have denied. It is a pity and unfortunate that this publication
by Dr. Obioba has come at a time that there is relative peace and cooperative
neighbourliness between the Ibeno community and Ekid community. For this,
credit goes to the Governor and Government of Akwa Ibom State for promoting
this spirit of co-existence between the two groups.
8. Finally,
we cannot end this reaction without pointing out the fact that the ownership of
Ibeno Lands by Ibeno Community has always received Government recognition and
approval even in this period of the existence of the Land Use Act.
The Government of the South Eastern
State with Colonel U. J. Esuene, an Ekid indigene as the Governor recognised
Ibeno as the owner of the land on which Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited is
sited. The Agreement which the Government made with Mobil recognised Mkpanak in
Ibeno as the Landlord of Mobil. Every other event which followed after this
Agreement was drawn up and signed, show that the Ibenos have as a minority
community been fraudulently cheated and shortchanged with respect to the
payment of the 18million naira rent by Mobil in respect of Ibeno land. Part of
the Mobil Agreement described the land which was given to Mobil as follows: THE
SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO:
“All
that parcel of land at Ibeno in the Eket Division of the South-Eastern State of
Nigeria, containing an area of approximately 810.04 acres shown on
South-Eastern State of Nigeria Survey Plan No. SE/OP.C.1 (Tracing No. SEC.14)
the boundaries of “which are described below.
Starting at a concrete pillar marked PB GK 32 the coordinates of which
are 374.51 feet South and 5321.47 feet East of a concrete pillar marked BCS IT
the origin of BIG TOWN (MKPANAK) Ibeno Cadastral Surveys, the boundaries run in
straight lines the bearings and lengths of which are as follows....”
9. We which to
assure the Government of Akwa Ibom State that the land on which the
Petrochemical Industry is sited is Ibeno land and at an appropriate time
compensation issue shall be discussed.
10. It
is proper here and now to warn the likes of Dr. Obioba to desist from
sponsoring such provocative and tendentious publications in order to avoid very
serious conflagratory reactions.
We wish to use this medium to
congratulate Akwa Ibom State Government for making it possible for Ibeno people
to share in its uncommon transformation agenda and the boldness to site the
Petrochemical Industry on Ibeno land. We also assure the Government of the
cooperation and support of Ibeno as host community and partner in the project,
while looking forward to a very profitable venture in the ensuring years.
Yours faithfully,
