Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno has appealed to aggrieved royal fathers from other ethnic groups (Annang, Oro and the Obolos) to sheathe their swords and withdraw the case in court over the creation of “president-general” for the Ibibio monarch, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk.
The law which creates the office empowers the traditional institution to operate absolute monarchy in the state.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the controversial bill to amend the relevant sections of the Traditional Rulers’ Law (TRC) was sent by the state government to the House of Assembly, seeking the incorporation of a new title of “President-General for life” on Etuk, akin to the northern emirs, Yoruba Obas, Obi of Onitsha, Obong of Calabar and the Oni of Ife.
At an enlarged meeting of the traditional rulers of all classes and ranks drawn across the minority ethnic nationalities of Annang, Oro and the Obolos, held at Ati Annang headquarters in Ikot Ekpene local government area on Monday, the aggrieved monarchs resolved to boycott every activity summoned by Ntenyin Etuk and threatened to invoke traditional punishment on would-be flouters of the order.
The paramount ruler of Etim Ekpo LGA, Prof Amanam Udo, expressed anger over the deployment of political fiat to carve a traditional title for a section of the state, to the detriment of others, vowing they would stop at nothing to get the law repealed and the matter redressed.
Determined to ensure peace in the state, Governor Eno, who addressed the traditional rulers at the Exco Chambers of the Government House, Uyo, the state capital yesterday, stressed the need for the pending case in court on the matter, to be withdrawn to pave the way for negotiations and peace.
He said, “This meeting is another step in my earnest desire to make peace where there is war and infuse love where hatred abounds. I do this conscious of the fact that we are brothers not enemies; friends, not foes; coming from a treasured heritage and having a shared glorious future.
“I invited you to come let’s reason together, express our fears, concerns and demands in an atmosphere of brotherhood and unity, not acrimony and strife. I am calling on you to drop sentiments and let us discuss objectively in order to reach solutions that will help us not just today, but the generations unborn,” the governor said.
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