Anger Trails Banning Of Masquerades In Akwa Ibom

As the Yuletide season approaches, the usual razzmatazz and other displays of the traditional Ekpo Masquerade in Akwa Ibom State will be sorely missed by residents, especially those travelling from different states and abroad for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The Ekpo scenes in festive seasons, LEADERSHIP gathered, are always a cynosure to behold as their side attractions would command the attention of the Ekpo adherents and the non – initiates.

But such menu is going to be off the table of activities lined up for the yearly fiesta tagged; “Christmas Unplugged”, although the commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, at the press conference on Monday, assured other side attractions would add colour to the month – long events, in the absence of the Ekpo masquerades.

Citing some of their menacingly disgusting displays affect innocent residents especially the female folks, who constituted large percentage of the non – initiates.

In Abak, Uruan, Ibiono Ibom and other local government areas where the masquerade tradition is deeply rooted, cases of skirmishes with bloody scenes always accompanied the Ekpo season, forcing governor Umo Eno, to invoke Executive Order (EO), banning the traditional exercise.

Giving reason for the decision, governor  Eno, cited what he described as the recent surge in attacks on innocent residents by suspected criminals hiding under the guise of masquerades in different communities.

“By my office as governor of Akwa Ibom State, I’m issuing an order. Anyone caught will be arrested and tried. They have been using it to cause trouble in some LGAs.

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, I am directing the Commissioner of Police and all heads of security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone involved.

“Let’s stop terrorising people. Let people have peace. All those I see when we’re driving, please let it be clear that it is hereby banned. No more,” he declared.

But the custodian of the cultural heritage of Akwa Ibom, have branded the decision as “unpopular” given the place of the Ekpo culture in the state.

“The governor’s unilateral decision to ban masquerade activities is a denigration of the traditional and cultural heritage of the state that had been there for ages since the pre-colonial era.

“We have used the traditional instrument of Ekpo, to maintain law and order even when there was nothing like political governance, and such institution should not just by political fiat be decreed out of existence by a sitting governor and a pastor, who preaches peace, unity and ethno-political and religious harmony.

“We, as the custodian of the traditional institution are dismayed by the governor’s action just because of the hoodlums who hide under the Ekpo mask to perpetrate untoward behaviours and arrogance that are part of the norms of Ekpo.

“The Ekpo masquerades represent the spirits of our ancestors, and we deploy such instrument to instill discipline in the society especially in some very cases of infidelity amongst women in marriage and other misdemeanors of the society,” Ette Ekpo, Bassey Ineme, from Essien Udim LGA, explained.

“It’s pathetic that I can travel all the way from Canada to be part of the Ekpo festival this year which is always a fantastic reunion with my fellow initiates in Afaha- Obong, Abak LGA, only to discover the actions of some criminal elements who often hijack the show have forced a ban on such a long- standing tradition,” Chief Aniefiok Akpan, an Ekpo initiate from Afaha-Obong in Abak LGA, lamented.

Calling on the governor to rethink his action, Inyene Effiong, a fan of the Ekpo culture, appealed that the masquerades, as “the spirit of our ancestors should not be caged.”

“Ekpo, is the representative and messengers of our ancestors because they take our prayers to our ancestors who would bless our planting season with good harvests as the farming season begins. We consult the spirits to bless and give us good yields every season,” he explained.

“The governor should also realise or recall that Ekpo masquerades displays were always the essential features during his campaigns, chorusing his support during his election as governor. As a Christian that he is, the governor should give what belong to Caesar to the owners because the Ekpo masquerades had never ventured out of its abode to drag the pulpit with him as a pastor,” Etteidung Udofia Noting, a community leader in Uyo, stressed.