IFIM IBOM IBIBIO ADVERTORIAL ON OKU IBOM STOOL

PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT ASAN IBIBIO ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2011, BY IBIBIO PARAMOUNT RULERS AGAINST THE PURPORTED PLANS BY THE GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE, CHIEF GODSWILL OBOT AKPABIO, TO USE THE STATE FUNDS TO SUPER IMPOSE EDIDEM AKPABIO UDO UKPA AS OKUIBOM ON IBIBIO PEOPLE.

Distinguished gentle men of the press, we welcome you all to this press conference held today, Friday, November 25, 2011, by Ibibio Paramount Rulers who are constitutionally the kingmakers of Okuibom Ibibio.
Our attention has been drawn to the media campaign going on in the state and in the internet that the state governor, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, has adopted the Paramount Ruler of ONNA Local Government Area, Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, as the Okuibom Ibom Ibibio III. The report further have it that governor Godswill Akpabio is planning to use the state apparatus, instrument and resources to impose Edidem Ukpa on the people of Ibibio race.
Ordinarily, these report would have been dismissed with a wave of the hand, but for the purpose of correcting any negative impression the report must have created in the minds of the people of the state and in particular, Ibibio sons and daughters, who upon getting hint of the purported plans, have inundated us with unabated calls and inquiries to ascertain the true position of Ifim Ibom Ibibio on the matter. We are to addressing this press conference in order to put the record straight, and therefore state as follows:
1. That the Paramount Ruler of ONNA LGA, Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, had ceased to be a member of ifim ibom Ibibio from July 6, 2011, when he was expelled for gross misconduct and insubordination to the leadership of Ifim Ibom Ibibio.

2. The reason for his expulsion was that, three days after the burial of His Eminence, Edidem Robert James Obot, the Okuibom Ibom Ibibio III, Edidem Akpabio Ukpa went on air to declare himself as the Okuibom Ibibio III, without recourse to Ibibio traditions and customs and the constitution of Ifim Ibibio.

3. Okuibom Stool is a revered position in Ibibio land which is normally occupied by the President of Ifim Ibom Ibibio, which is the Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers.

4. The process of selecting of Okuibom Ibibio has never been done in the government house as there are spelt out rules guiding the process and procedures as provided in the constitution of Ifim Ibom Ibibio which is NOT governed by the Traditional Rulers Laws of Akwa Ibom State.

5. For the avoidance of doubt, in the history of Ibibio people and in the records of Ifim Ibom Ibibio, the Okuibom I, was Edidem Udo Uyota Akpabio, who hailed from ONNA LGA; Okuibom II, was Usonyin Okon Ekpo Ekpo, from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, while Okuibom III, was His Eminence Edidem Robert James Obot, from Nsit Ubium LGA. History cannot repeat itself, and so Ibibio people cannot have another OKUIBOM III.

6. Edidem Akpabio Ukpa cannot on his own ascend the revered throne of Ifim Ibom Ibibio by gathering his villagers to impersonate Ifim Ibom Ibibio and paraded them before the state governor and newsmen as Paramount Rulers and members of Ifim Ibom Ibibio.

7. We must observe here that when our Annang brothers (Paramount Rulers) selected/elected Itai Afe Annang, there was no intrusion from government or government agents, the governor did not impose his preferred candidate on his kinsmen, the Paramount Rulers of Annang extraction. And when the Oro Paramount Rulers selected/elected Ahta Oro for Oro Nation, neither the governor nor his agents imposed any government preferred candidate on the people of Oro nation. This was so because these stools are traditional in nature and kind, which must be devoid of any form of politics or interference from government since they are not governed by the traditional rulers laws of Akwa Ibom State.

8. The traditional leaders of these ethnic groups have their traditional ways of selecting their leaders which does not include politicking, campaigns, electioneering and the involvement of state government apparatus.

9. We hereby declare and STRONGLY WARN against government interference and advise the state governor, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, to stay clear from Ibibio traditional matters especially as it concerns Ifim Ibom Ibibio and Okuibom Ibibio stool as there are other important state matters that are demanding his urgent attention.

10. That the state funds should be used for other useful ventures that would yield immediate and direct benefit to the government and people of Akwa ibom State instead of wasting it on matters that the government do not have authority.

11. That Ibibio people shall resist any attempt by the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, or his agents to impose Edidem Akpabio Ukpa and or bankroll his insurrection.

12. We want to appeal to the good people of Ibibio race both in Akwa Ibom State and in Diaspora to remain calm, peaceful, law-abiding and discountenance these media propaganda as the state governor knows his limits and would not allow himself to be dragged into Ibibio traditional matters under any guise and for the interest of peace and harmony in Akwa Ibom State.

13. We hereby restate unequivocally the expulsion of the Paramount Ruler of ONNA, Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, from Ifim Ibom Ibibio and further declare that he remains so expelled.

14. It must be noted that all matters relating to Ibibio traditional institutions, customs and traditions usually MUST take place at ASAN Ibibio, the ancestral shrine of the Ibibios, therefore anything done in the name of Ibibio outside Asan Ibibio is null and void and of no effect whatsoever and is questionable.

15. Finally all Ibibio sons and daughters are accordingly WARNED not to participate in the purported ceremony.
Signed:
For the Supreme Council Of Ibibio Traditional Rulers
1. HRM, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette
Paramount Ruler of Etinan LGA ..…………………………………

2. HRM, Okuku (Dr.) Ime Udousoro Inyang
Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom LGA ………………………………….

3. HRM, Edidem (Pastor) E. B. A. Ekanem
Paramount Ruler of Uruan LGA …………………………………..

4. HRM, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, AMBP
Paramount Ruler of Itu LGA …..………………………………

5. HRM, Edidem (Surv.) Edem Silas Akpan
Paramount Ruler of Uyo LGA …………………………………..

6. HRM, Edidem A. U. Ntuen
Paramount Ruler of Nsit Atai LGA ..………………………………..

7. HRM, Edidem Manasseh S. Akpan, JP
Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ibom LGA ……………………………………

8. HRM, Edidem Udo Effiong Akpan
Paramount Ruler of Ini LGA ……………………………………