-As AKHA Speaker, AKSG Officials, Ibibio Monarchs, Ors Storm Asan
BY FRANKLYN ISONG
Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette being presented as the Okuibom Ibibio IV at Asan Ibibio recently
Saturday, February 18, 2012 seemed to mark a new beginning for the people of Ibibio nation as nine paramount rulers of Ifim Ibom Ibibio, the Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers, presented the paramount ruler of Etinan Local Government Area, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, as the Okuibom Ibibio IV and the traditional head of the race.
The occasion which took place at Asan Ibibio, the traditional shrine of Ibibio people was chaired by the chairman of the State Council of Chiefs and paramount ruler of Ibiono Ibom LGA, Okuku Ime Udousoro Inyang, had in attendance, the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Sam Ikon and some members of the AKHA who were of Ibibio stock; past and present chairmen of local government councils, commissioners, aides of the state governor; Ntisong Ibibio III, Obong Essien Udo Ekidem and members of his group, the Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio; Dr. Okon Akpan Oku, and members of his Ibibio Elders Forum; Ibibio national Union lead by its deputy president-general, Hon. Ime Udo and several others.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the event, Okuku Ime Udousoro Inyang, said that the event mark the beginning of a new era in Ibibio land as the race now know who is their king and Okuibom IV.
He noted that the fourth largest ethnic group was bigger than an individual, saying that the there were laid down procedure in selecting a traditional ruler for the people of Ibibio.
The Ibiono monarch condemned what he called threat by some unknown individuals to bomb Asan Ibibio in order to frighten the people not to attend the event.
He called on the state security agents to investigate those behind the threat with in order to unravel their real intention.
Okuku Inyang advised the new Okuibom to carry all the people of the race along and to see himself as the father of all Ibibio people.
While the leader of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, Ntisong Essien Ekidem said that with the presentation of Umoette to Ibibio people as the Okuibom IV, Ibibio people should unite and rally round him so that the ethnic group can speak in one voice.
Ekidem also condemned threat by some unknown individual to bomb Asan Ibibio during the event, noting that such a threat should be thoroughly investigated by the state security agents with view to bring those behind the action to justice.
The chairman of Ibibio Elders Forum, Dr. Okon Akpan Oku, thanked the paramount rulers for selecting a new king for the race in line with the constitution of Ifim Ibom Ibibio, saying that with the presentation, the people of the race could now have a focus.
Speakers after speaker extolled the sterling qualities of the Edidem Umoette.
He was presented to by the nine Ibibio Paramount Rulers of Ibiono Ibom, Uyo, Itu, Ini, Ikono, Uruan, Nsit Ibom and Etinan LGAs.
After the presentation, the paramount ruler of Itu who is also the Secretary-General Ifim Ibom Ibibio, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, read a resolution signed by the nine paramount rulers, saying that the choice of Umoette as the Okuibom IV was done after prayers to God for His guidance and several consultations by the royal fathers which took into consideration, the constitutional provisions of Ifim Ibom Ibibio with particular reference to Article VI(i)&(ii) which, according to him, dealt with selection of Okuibom based on the alphabetical rotation.
Speaking, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette assured the people of his race that he would live up their expectation, saying that he has never lobbied for the stool but attributed his ascension to the Okuibom throne as the divine will of God.
He thanked his colleagues, the paramount rulers for finding him fit for the stool, promising that he would unite the people and said that he leadership would be a listening one.
He called for unity amongst his people and urged them to support the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, so that he (Akpabio) could deliver on the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
The event was attended by several socio-cultural groups in the state, especially from Ibibio stock.
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