A group, Uyo Senatorial District Forum, has appealed to traditional rulers opposed to the amended Akwa Ibom State traditional rulers law to consider the interest and unity of the state above ethnic interests and allow peace to prevail in the state.
The PUNCH reports that the Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Law CAP 55 which has already been assented into law by the state governor, Umo Éno, has generated a lot of controversy in the polity.
Various youths and women groups as well as traditional rulers from the minority ethnic groups including Annang, Oron and others have rejected the new law on the grounds that it seeks to grant perpetual leadership of the Traditional Rulers Council to the Oku Ibom Ibibio, disregarding the longstanding rotational provision among all paramount rulers in the state.
The law birthed the new Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom Traditional rulers with the Ibibio Patriarch and Oku Ibom Ibibio, Nteyin Solomon Etuk, as the President -General for life.
But the group, in a statement by its Chairman, Ofonime Isong, and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Joseph Okon, on Sunday, appealed to the aggrieved traditional rulers to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance.
The forum said it decided to wade into the matter because it appeared that the amended TRC law was assuming dangerous and divisive dimensions due to the sponsorship of politicians with malicious intent.
“The law now makes it possible for Akwa Ibom State to have a number one king who will be a worthy representative and ambassador of the State Traditional Rulers Council. it is not about His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, it is not about Oku Ibom nor Ibibio, Annang or Oro. What is paramount is the permanent interest of Akwa Ibom people. Whoever does not love Akwa Ibom State does not also love his immediate ethnic group.
“Let us not also forget that by the law of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, the President-General does not operate unilaterally, and as such will not be leading or taking decisions alone. The law equally makes provision for Vice President I and Vice President II. These two Vice Presidents represent Annang and Oro respectively. It makes it impossible for one ethnic group to dominate others.
“This means that the President-General will not be attending national events and programmes alone but in the company of the Nkuku Annang and Ahta Oro.
In some instances, the President-General can as well mandate his vice president I or vice president II to represent him. It is not an Ibibio, Annang or Oro, it is an Akwa Ibom thing. We call on everyone irrespective of political party and ethnic background to close ranks and work for the good and prosperity of Akwa Ibom State.
“We should therefore, be cautious with with the utterances we make on this matter. Let us emphasise on those things that will unite rather than divide us. Akwa Ibom State is all that we have, and there is nothing that is worth the love and unity of Akwa Ibom people.”
