By Emeka Samuel, Uyo
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium, Etenyin Solomon Etuk and other eminent Nigerians have stressed the need for the strengthening of the traditional institutions for the overall peace and development of Nigeria.
They made this known at the coronation of the Oku Ibom Ibibio (Supreme Ruler of the Ibibio ethnic nationality) held at the Assan Ibibio field, Uyo.
Emmanuel who commended the Ibibio’s for coming together under one traditional leader, enjoined the people to rally round the new Oku Ibom – to be able to implement the demands of the office with justice, equity and fair play.
He underscored the importance of stretching his hands of fellowship to other traditional norms and practices in other climes as epitomized by the heavy presence of other royal fathers including the Ooni of Ife, the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom and others.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, noted the inherent similarities between the Ibibio traditional heritage and that of the Yorubas of Western Nigeria, and stressed for those values to be explored to achieve the needed peace and development of Nigeria.
“The culture and traditions of the Ibibio are similar to that of the Oduduwa of the Western Nigeria. Without culture we are nobody because it is the cultures that bind the people together”, he stressed, adding that harnessing of such trado-cultural potentials could go a long way towards engendering peace in the polity.”The Ooni said.
He commended governor Emmanuel for his love and respect for traditional institutions and charged the people continue to support his administration in his strive to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
The Oku Ibom Ibibio, Ntenyin Etuk, promised to deploy his new position into rallying the unity and peace of the Ibibio people and the state at large, adding that the much needed peace could only be achieved when people accepted to jettison ethnicity and politics for the overall peace and development of Akwa Ibom and Nigeria.
Going into the general elections’ year, the Supreme Ibibio monarch advised politicians to “play by the rule and avoid do or die politics” that could inflame the polity and retard development.
