
By Etebong Akpan
There is uneasy calm in Midim Clan, Abak Local Government Area following the questionable replacement of the selected Clan Head with another for presentation of certificate of recognition by the state governor recently.
The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has recently presented a certificate of recognition to Chief Paul Thompson Ebong as the clan head of Midim instead of the duly selected clan head, Eteidung Sylvester Okokon Ibanga.
According to the minutes of the report of the selection of clan head of Midim Clan held on the 15th of February, 2024 at the Customary Court, Hall, Eteidung Sylvester Ibanga; the village head of Ikot Ekiduk was duly returned as the elected clan head after polling eight votes against his closest challenger, Chief Patrick Ukanga; the village head of Ikot Eshiet who had only one vote.
The minutes of the event which is signed by Chief Friday Asquo , the secretary of the clan council said the event was presided by Akuku Patrick Akerette , the village head of Nto Otong and Akuku Saviour Ebong Abatai; the village head of Ekpat Iduot and was witnessed by the then transition committee chairman for Abak local government area, Apostle Ekerette Inyang, the paramount ruler of Etim Ekpo, Okuku Amanam Udo, the paramount ruler of Oruk Anam , Okuku Johnson Obosi , Gen. Dominic Udofa (rtd), Professor Nkereuwem Etukudo, Rev Fr Christian Usungurua and Benedict Otu among others.
The release stated that one of the aspirants, chief Paul Thompson was conspicuously absent during the selection exercise and did not inform the Midim council of chiefs or the transition committee chairman
In an open letter to the state governor dated May 20th, 2024 with the title, ‘Fraudulent Attempt To circumvent The selection of the Clan Head of Midim, Abak Local Government Area, the Midim Clan Traditional Rulers Council had briefed the governor on what transpired and the eventual selection of Eteidung Sylvester Ibanga as the clan head elect of Midim clan .
The letter which was copied to the state commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs, the state commissioner of Police, the then transition committee chairman, Abak and the paramount ruler of Abak, alerted the governor that while the clan council was waiting for the formal presentation and issuance of certificate to Eteidung Ibanga they became aware of what they described as a demonic plot by some group of persons to surreptitiously present someone else as the clan head of Midim against the collective will of the good people of the area.
They pleaded with the governor by stating clearly that the plot to circumvent the selection process and to falsely present someone else as the clan head of the area other than the winner was against the spirit of their forebears and the entire Midim.
It reasons that such plot will create bad blood, incite war and disrupt the peace currently enjoyed by the people of the area.
In a follow up letter to the governor dated September 24, 2024, titled.’ Report of Wrongful Issuance of Certificate Of Recognition as Clan head of Midim to non Selected Village Head – Chief Paul Thompson Ebong: request For Withdrawal’, the clan council restated its earlier position and condemned the issuance of certificate to a man who did not even attend the selection process.
“This is inappropriate and we the village heads of Midim Clan vehemently protest and call on you as our father and the chief security officer of our beloved state to please come and salvage us from this injustice and breach of the norms of the tradition, correct this abnormality and give the mandate to the person that was selected; Chief Sylvester Ibanga.”
Eteidung Sylvester Ibanga while commenting on the development said that after the completion of the selection exercise, a letter was forwarded by the Midim clan Council to the chairman of the Abak traditional rulers council who incidentally is the paramount ruler of Abak, Akuku Saviour Udofia for his presentation and onward submission to the state for his recognition and certification.
“As we waited without any response, the village heads of Midim paid a courtesy visit on the paramount ruler requesting to schedule a date for my presentation which he responded that, ‘the Governor has not given approval for the inauguration of Abak traditional rulers council.
“On 20 may, 2024, the Midim Clan traditional rulers Council sent a reminder to him and copied the commissioner , ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs , the same response of no approval for inauguration was verbally given to us by both the secretary of Abak traditional rulers council, Mr Udeme Umoren and the paramount ruler; Akuku Udofia.
“On the 22nd of July, 2024 another letter requesting the Abak TRC to invite us for presentation was sent to the paramount ruler, ‘still no action nor response was given to us’’.
On the September 19, 2024, a letter from Midim Clan traditional rulers council was forwarded to the commissioner local government and chieftaincy affairs requesting that since approval for inauguration was not granted to Abak TRC for the presentation, he should create a medium for us to present me at the ministry for my certification by you; of all these, no reaction was received but to my greatest shock, …on 23rd September, 2024 a certificate of recognition was handed over to Chief Paul Ebong who did not even appear before the clan on the February 15, 2024 for selection.”
When contacted, the secretary, Abak traditional ruler’s council, Mr Udeme Umoren said he was not qualified to speak on the matter as it will amount to insubordination. He disclosed that as long as the state governor has penned his signature on the matter, he was not qualified to comment on it again.
The paramount ruler of Abak, Akuku Saviour Udofia did not pick or return calls put forward to him by this reporter. He however acknowledged a text message send to him by this reporter requesting for audience on this matter but did not grant the said audience.
However, the paramount ruler of Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Okuku Johnson Obosi one of the guests who was said to have attended the selection exercise, admitted that he went there as the secretary general of Afe Nkuku Annang.
“I witnessed the entire selection process at the Midim Community Hall.
“Chief Sylvester Ibanga won fair and square and was decorated with the traditional Udak after the blasting of native ‘aduk ikan (atigidib)’ to herald the completion of the selection rituals
“I don’t know why the person who never attended the selection exercise was later recognised by the state government”.
His position was equally echoed by the paramount ruler of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Okuku Amanam Udo who represented the president general of Afe Nkuku Annang, Obong Cosmos Akpan, the paramount ruler of Essien Udim.
Meanwhile youth leaders in the area have described the presentation of certificate of recognition to Chief Paul Ebong as an invitation to anarchy, chaos and an attempt to bring disunity and hatred among the people of Midim clan who have been living peacefully over the years.
Speaking under the aegis of United Abak Youth Leaders Forum, UAYLF, the national coordinator of the forum, Adede Sunday Umanah stated that youth leaders in Abak will not accept the presentation of certificate of recognition to a wrong person .
“We are here to tell the whole world that Youth leaders in Abak Local Government Area are not happy and will not support what is wrong.
“The presentation of certificate of recognition to Chief Paul Ebong is wrong and was not in line with the traditional rulers edict.
“We believe that as a listening and God fearing governor, pastor Umo Eno would not have presented the certificate to Chief Paul Ebong if he was properly briefed. This is not a political appointment, anything that has to do with tradition must follow due process”.
“The youth leader appealed to the state governor to set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the ugly incident.
When contacted,Chief Paul Ebong, who was recognised and presented with the certificate of recognition by the state governor said he was not ready to address the media on the matter assuring that when he is ready, he will personally invite this reporter to the event.
Currently, a graveyard silence has rocked the entire clan as nothing is happening in the traditional institution there. Chief Paul Ebongs’ inaugural meeting as the clan head of Midim was said to be a failure as all the village heads are alleged to have boycotted the meeting except Eteidung Patrick Ukanga; the village head of Ikot Eshiet.
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