By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Yesterday’s talks between Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, and paramount rulers to resolve the lingering crisis over the amended Traditional Rulers Law ended in a deadlock.
The meeting, held in the Exco Chambers of the Government House in Uyo, saw the presence of 26 out of the 31 paramount rulers of the state.
It was reported that during the meeting, the governor appealed to aggrieved paramount rulers from Annang, Oro, and Obolo to withdraw their case from court and allow for an amicable resolution of the matter.
Monarchs from Annang, Oro, and Obolo had reaffirmed their opposition to the law on Monday, which grants perpetual headship of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers to the Ibibio, the majority ethnic group in the state. They also threatened to boycott all meetings presided over by the Oku Ibom Ibibio and President-General Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Ntenyin Solomon Etuk.
Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo and Vice President Afe Akuku Annang, HRM Akuku (Prof) Amanam Udo, stated that they did not agree to the governor’s request during the meeting.
“We honored the governor with our presence at the meeting and agreed that the matter should be amicably resolved for the unity and peaceful co-existence of the state.
“Regarding the governor’s appeal for us to withdraw our case in court against the contentious and vexatious law, we made it clear to the Governor that those of us opposed to the law will have to meet again to see if that is possible.
“It is not true that we apologized to the governor over our well-considered action to oppose the law. We only apologize to him for not attending the last meeting he convened.
“We stand by our position that the law is discriminatory and seeks to make other tribes in the state inferior to the Ibibio. The office of the President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in the state must be rotated.
“Certainly, we will meet again, that is the Annang, Obolo, and Oro and will come out with our position. But just know we haven’t conceded anything yet,” he said.
Earlier, the governor, while addressing the monarchs, said, “This meeting is another step in my earnest desire to make peace where there is war and infuse love where hatred abounds.
“I do this conscious of the fact that we are brothers, not enemies; friends, not foes; coming from a treasured heritage and having a shared glorious future.
“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.
“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 lawsuit filed on this matter.
“With the pendency of this lawsuit, any in-depth discussion or intervention therein will be sub judice. 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.”
