Ibibio Group Decries Attacks On Ekid Union, Warns Against Coastal Annexation

The umbrella body of the Ibibio-speaking people of Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, has condemned the attacks launched by the Oro-speaking people against the president of the Ekid People’s Union, Dr Samuel Udonsak.

The group said the attacks followed Udonsak’s remarks exposing an attempt by the Oro people to secure the creation of an Oro-Obolo State from parts of Akwa Ibom State.
Udonsak made the remarks during the inauguration of the 12th International President and Executive Council of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio International in Uyo recently.

At the event, he said the renewed campaign for the proposed Oro-Obolo State is being driven through efforts that could undermine the Ibibio people.

Udonsak stated that, contrary to recent claims, Oro Nation is not a littoral community because it has no direct boundary with the Atlantic coastline.

He also stated that the renewed Oro-Obolo campaign and the agitation for the proposed state were part of a strategy to annex parts of Southern Ibibio ancestral lands into Oro Nation in order to gain access to the Atlantic coastline through Ibibio territory.

Meanwhile, a press statement jointly signed by Obong Okon, Ntisong of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, and Obong Tony Okpon, Secretary-General of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, said it’s in full support for him, insisting that his comments were factual and supported by historical records.

“Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio knows that the core essence of the scheme is for Oro Nation to gain land contiguity with the Obolo people in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area for the purpose of creating the proposed Oro-Obolo State on parts of Ibibio land.

“As a conscious Ibibio leader and patriotic son of Akwa Ibom, the President of the Ekid People’s Union further pointed out that if the Ibibio, the majority ethnic group, remain silent and allow Oro Nation to execute its plan of disconnecting the Ibibio from the Atlantic coastline and making the coastline part of the proposed Oro-Obolo State.

“This is the patriotic point Dr Udonsak strongly made, not only for the Ibibio but for the entire people of Akwa Ibom State,” it added.