- Warns him to Steer Clear
By Franklyn Isong
The rosy relationship enjoyed between the people of Ibibio ethnic group and their Annang counterpart in Akwa Ibom State may be severed as a fallout of comments credited to the clan head of Ikpe Annang in Essien Udim LGA who is also the Itai Afe Annang IV, Okuku Pius Effiong Esideh III, in a local tabloid in the state concerning the crisis rocking the Okuibom Ibibio stool.
Ifim Ibom Ibibio has been engulfed in a prolonged crisis over who ascend the highest traditional stool of Okuibom Ibibio. The crisis has splits Ibibio Paramount Rulers into two groups led by Edidems Akpabio Udo Ukpa and Ime Dickson Umoette, monarchs of ONNA and Etinan LGAs respectively. While, Ukpa insists on ascending the stool as the Okuibom III, Umoette-led group which has 10 Ibibio Paramount Rulers are saying that Okuibom III was the slain paramount ruler of Nsit Ubium LGA, Edidem Robert James Obot and so, the stool would be occupied by Okuibom IV that would be a paramount ruler selected by them based on alphabetical arrangement of Ibibio LGAs as enshrined in Ifim Ibom constitution.
While the debates however ranges on by both camps of Ibibio monarchs, a twist has been introduced as Edidem Umoette-led Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers has issued what is called “a stern warning” to the clan head of Ikpe Annang, Okuku Pius Esideh, to steer clear of Ibibio traditional matters and desist from further commenting on the Okuibom matter which, according to them, was strictly Ibibio people’s affair, saying that Esideh has no locus standi to comment on the matter under whatever capacity because it was not an issue for the Annangs.
Okuku Esideh incurred Ifim Ibom wrath when he granted an interview to a local tabloid in the state which was titled; “Ifim Ibom Ibibio Cracks: OkuIbom III is Dead - Edidem Umoette; No! He’s Alive - Itai Afe Annang.”
He was reported in the interview to amongst other things said that the Umoette -led Paramount Rulers were not being truthful on the Okuibom issue.
The Newspaper report further quoted him as saying, “they were there when they introduced Edidem Ukpa to Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, and I was an eye witness. So, for them to stay away today (referring to the day of Ukpa’s coronation) or to have created a problem in Ibibio land is not fair, these paramount rulers are no truthful to themselves.”
Esideh was also quoted as saying, “when the Annang (people) wanted to consult them, we consulted them at Akpabio Udo Ukpa’s palace, and all of them attended. Nobody made any agitation whatsoever that this man shouldn’t be the Oku Ibom Ibibio III by then.”
The clan head from the state governor’s local government was said to have urged Umoette’s group to, “join hands with Akpabio Ukpa as he has been crowned today as Okuibom Ibibio. They should join hands with him to build the race, so they can keep Ibibio race as one.”
According to the publication, Esideh went further to assert that, “I have told them to sheath their sword and join hands with him (Ukpa) and make Ibibio great because they elected him. He is a paramount ruler of Ibibio land and those who were alive elected him,” saying, “he (Ukpa) must forgive and accept them as a peaceful man and continue with his good works.”
But, in what appears to be a swift reaction, the Paramount Ruler of Etinan LGA, and the President of Ifim Ibom Ibibio, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, has described Okuku Esideh’s interview as an insult to Ifim Ibom Ibibio and the entire people of Ibibio land, saying that the Itai Afa Annang has no right whatsoever to speak for Ibibio people or to comment on matters affecting Ibibio Paramount Rulers in the state.
The Etinan monarch observed that Esideh’s comments in the said interview was meant to further spit on the people of Ibibio nation as, according to him, it has never been heard in Akwa Ibom state that “an Ibibio clan head or even a paramount ruler ever made comment on Annang traditional matters,” warning that “Esideh should confine himself to traditional matters affecting his clan in Annang land, rather than engaging in frivolous comments and actions that could further provoke any ethnic group in the state to anger.
“I am advising him to stay away and or stay clear from Ifim Ibom Ibibio affairs and any other matter concerning Ibibio traditional institution. He is a clan head in Annang land and Okuibom issue is a matter that concerns Ibibio paramount rulers, so, where does he come in. His comments, I think, is the height of insult to us, which we cannot allow to go without warning him in order to avoid a repeat.
“Be that as it may, I still want to believe that Pius Esideh did not grant this interview and say all these words because, if actually he did, then, it is the very height of irresponsibility on his part to attempt to spit on Ibibio people by wanting to speak for Ibibio nation or comment on Ibibio traditional issue that is far above his scope.”
Umoette called on Esideh to “render an unreserved apology to Ifim Ibom Ibibio and to the people of Ibibio nation for making such unwarranted derogatory remarks in order to demean the status of Ibibio people in the state.”
The President of the Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers in the state also called on his Annang counterpart, the Afe Nkuku Annang which is made up of Paramount Rulers in Annang land to immediately call the Ikpe Annang clan head to order before he set the state on fire. Edidem Umoette made these reactions in an interview with Weekend Insight in Uyo on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.
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