Seven-member committee to resolve Akwa Ibom traditional rulers’ crisis

A seven-member committee comprising royal fathers from selected local government councils has been raised to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers’ Council.

The crisis erupted following a new law made by the state House of Assembly and signed by former governor Udom Emmanuel which abolished the rotation of the chairman of the state traditional Rulers Council but created the post of President General of the State Supreme Council traditional Ruler whose occupant will hold office for life.

Members of the committee are, Etim Charles Daniel Abia, Paramount Ruler of Eket as chsirman Chairman, Edet Akpan Inyang, Paramount Ruler of Itu, Amanam Akpanudo Uko, Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo and Okon Udo Ukut, Paramount Ruler of Ikot Ekpene.

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Others include Okon, Asukwo Abang, Paramount Ruler of Mbo LGA, Ita Edet Okokon, Paramount Ruler of Okobo and Ime Udousoro Inyang, Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom while Emmanuel Umontuen, Secretary, Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council, will serve as the Committee Secretary

Inaugurating the committee during the meeting he had with the royal fathers, Governor Umo Eno said he would not want to meddle into the affairs of the royal fathers explaining why the committee was set up.

“I thank you most sincerely for heeding my call. It is through your support and the support of all Akwa Ibomites that I was elected to this office.

“I always pray that God will help me to always do my best to satisfy the majority of Akwa Ibom people.

“I have gone to Ibibio, Annang and Oro lands to sue for peace on this issue and let me thank Barrister Ekpenyong Ntekim for accepting to cooperate with us to resolve this matter out of court.

“The position of everyone from your submissions, is that you have all agreed on the principle of rotation for the position of the President -General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers.

“We won’t want to meddle into this issue involving our revered traditional fathers. That is why we are setting up a 7-man Committee drawn from this revered body to make recommendations concerning the mode or structure of the rotation and submit the conclusions to us, in two weeks.

“We will thereafter, send the recommendations to the State House of Assembly for further considerations,” the Governor said.

In his speech, the Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Bassey Etim Edet, thanked the Governor for the excellent manner he has handled the matter and supported the idea of a committee to look into the issue as proposed by the Governor.

Also speaking, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, also sued for peace, emphasizing that, “we are all bound by the same cords of unity. It is not about me; it is about the unity and peace of our dear state.

“I am an in- law in Annang land, and my son is married in Udung Uko Local Government Area, in Oron land. We are all one and we must embrace peace for our State to progress”, he said, while expressing support for the committee.

In his vote of thanks, Ekpenyong Ntekim, a counsel to some Royal Fathers who had initially instituted a legal action on the issue, described Governor Umo Eno as a man of peace.

He thanked the Governor for his ingenuity in setting up the committee and expressed his support, stating that it represents the best way to resolve the lingering issue.