By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
In a bid to find lasting solutions to the lingering issue arising from the amended Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers’ Law, the Akwa Ibom government has constituted a 7-member committee on the Traditional Rulers’ Law, with the paramount ruler of Eket, HRM Edidem Etim Charles Daniel Abia, as chairman.
The committee has the secretary, Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council, Dr Emmanuel Umontuen, as secretary, while the paramount rulers of Itu, HRM Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang; Etim Ekpo, HRM Edidem Amanam Akpanudo Uko; Ikot Ekpene, HRM Akuku Okon Udo Ukut; Mbo, HRM Owong Okon Asukwo Abang; Okobo, HRM Edidem Ita Edet Okokon, and Ibiono Ibom, HRM Okuku Ime Udousoro Inyang, as members.
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who constituted the committee, Tuesday, during his meeting with paramount rulers drawn from 29 out of the 31 local government areas, as the paramount rulers of Ibeno and Ini Local Government Areas were not in attendance on health grounds, at the State Executive Council Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo, assured them of his administration’s readiness to work with them to find a lasting solution to the matter.
He thanked the paramount rulers for heeding to his call, as it was through their supports and that of all Akwa Ibomites that he was elected into office as governor.
Eno lauded Mr Ekpenyong Ntekim Esq for accepting to cooperate with government to resolve the matter out of court.
“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 added.
In their separate remarks, on behalf of their colleagues, the paramount rulers of Etim Ekpo, HRM Edidem Amanam Udo; Mbo, HRM Owong Okon Abang, and that of Ibesikpo Asutan, HRM Edidem Clement Francis Ekpenyong, expressed total support for the setting up of the committee.
Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Odidem 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.
The Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, sued for peace, emphasising that since they are bound by the same cords of unity, the issue in contention is not about him alone, but about the unity and peace of the State.
“I am an in-law in Annang land, and my son married in Udung Uko Local Government Area, in Oro land. We are all one and we must embrace peace for our State to progress,” Ntenyin Etuk said while expressing support for the committee.
Counsel to some royal fathers, and one who had initially instituted a court action on the issue, Mr Ekpenyong Ntekim Esq, described Eno as a man of peace, while thanking him for his ingenuity in setting up the committee.
Ntekim expressed his support for the committee, saying that it represents the best way to resolve the lingering issue.
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