South-South tribe threatens secession

South-South tribe threatens secession

The people of Efik Eburutu Kingdom of Cross River state have threatened secession from Nigeria, giving notice to the federal government at a press conference in Calabar.

Claiming economic, social and political marginalization, the tribe also expressed fear that the same fate of Bakkasi will befall them, alleging the Nigerian authorities was going to cede their lands.

Addressing Journalists Tuesday at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre Calabar, Chairman of Efik Eburutu Royal Fraternity Eyo Bassey Cobham said, “We have decided to take our destiny into our hands by pulling out of Nigeria. After due assessment of the plight of the Efiks, and after due consultations at home and in Diaspora, we the Efik Ethnic Nationality have resolved to pull out of the geographical expression called Nigeria which has, for over 100 years now, turned us to punching bags socially, economically and politically”

Bassey goes on to paint a bleak future for the Efiks if they remain a part of Nigeria.

He said the actions of “ceding” tribal lands clearly demonstrate that “our people are not wanted in Nigeria, and as a people we do not want to belong to Cameroon. The effect of this ceding has brought untold pain and suffering to Efik people.”

Secession threats are not entirely new in Nigeria. Over forty years ago the Igbo tribe launched a secession campaign, which led to the devastating civil war of the 1960s. Then early this month, the Biafra Zionist Movement, BZF, stormed the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, ESBS with the intention of making a broadcast reviving the defunct Republic of Biafra.

Other reasons advanced for their action include undue government interference in Efik Kingship.

“In their continued oppression and suppression, various Nigerian state governments at different times, have surreptitiously interfered and basterdized the selection and enthronement of the so called paramount rulers, five in number, within Efik Kingdom without due reference to the tradition of the people,” Bassey said.

 

MIKE ABANG, Calabar