Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has appealed to the aggrieved paramount rulers who challenged the enactment of the controversial amended Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Law 2022, to withdraw suit against against him and others concerned before settlement of the thorny issues.
The governor made this known Tuesday while addressing the paramount rulers drawn from all the 31 local government areas on ways to resolve the lingering issues around the leadership of the President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, at the State Executive Council Chambers, Uyo.
The amended law, which has generated disaffection among the Ibibio, Annang, Obolo and Oro ethnic groups in the state, grants perpetual headship of the new Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers on the Ibibio.
The Next Edition recalls that 13 Paramount Rulers from Annang, Oro and Obolo ethnic nationalities had instituted a suit in Akwa Ibom High Court, Uyo, challenging the Oku Ibom Ibibio who is occupying the position of the President-General of Council of Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers in perpetuity and the state government.
The law was hurriedly passed by the State Assembly without input made during the public hearing.
The Governor during the meeting promised to sit down with the paramount rulers to look into how the matter could be resolved amicably, but urged them to withdraw the case instituted against the state government by the paramount rulers of Annang, Oro and Obolo extractions, so that government may not be in contempt of court.
“I am here informing you of my readiness to have this conversation with you and to walk with you on the path that must lead to the destination of peace and unity. But there is, however, an existing impediment- the law suit filed on this matter.
“With the pendency of this law suit, any in-depth discussion or intervention therein will be subjudice. Therefore, I urge you to remove this legal obstacle, cease all media and politically motivated media wars and return here let us amicably resolve this issue, to the satisfaction of all.”
“Despite this obviously provocative response, I still offered an olive branch on Sunday, 24th September, at the State Thanksgiving service, where I asked that I be invited to your meeting so that we can discuss, since you spurned my invitation. Till today, I have not received any invitation from you, rather, I have read very inciting, provocative and inflammatory press releases, interviews and the sort.
READ ALSO: Appeal Court Sacks Sen. Elisha Abbo
“Today, 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.
“As a leader, I have been very careful with the things I have said since this challenge surfaced because words are powerful and like a shot arrow, once spoken, cannot be retrieved,” Governor Eno noted.
In response, the Paramount Ruler of Mbo, Ogwong Okon Asuquo Abang, who spoke for the Oron Nation, apologised on behalf of the Paramount rulers from Oron for not attending the first meeting earlier called by the Governor to resolve the matter.
Also, the Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo, Prof. Amanam Udoh who spoke for the Annang Nation, also apologised to the Governor for not being present at the earlier meeting.
On his part, the Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan, Edidem Clement Ekpenyong, thanked the Governor for summoning the meeting, and promised to work with his colleagues to resolve the issue.
