Politicians Fueling Traditional Stool Crisis in Akwa Ibom, Groups Allege

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Two socio-political groups in Akwa Ibom State, Peace Advocacy Initiative and Akwa Ibom United Front have said  that  the ongoing traditional stool crisis in the state was being sponsored by some unscrupulous politicians.

Akwa Ibom monarchs have been enmeshed in a faceoff following the passage of the  amended Traditional Rulers Council Law CAP155.

The  royal fathers from Annang and Oro ethnic nation rejected the new law describing it as discriminatory because it seeks to grant perpetual leadership of the traditional rulers council to the Oku Ibom Ibibio, disregarding the longstanding rotational provision among all paramount rulers in the state.

The state government has already begged the royal fathers to employ dialogue to settle their differences, saying that it would maintain its long standing disposition of not interfering with traditional matters.

Different youth groups have matched the streets in protest of the TRC law and have been hauling insults on government officials.

Worried by the development, the groups in a statement signed by their National Coordinators Joseph Ukpong and Christopher Okon, regretted that most of the youths are reacting out of ignorance, saying that some politicians were behind the protests and verbal insults just to cripple the government.

They said it was worrisome that people who ordinarily should be advised by the traditional rulers are now turning to advise them just to stir ethnic chaos in the  State.

The groups said law had been in existence for some time now, noting that there was only an amendment of some portions of the law in line with contemporary issues in the traditional institution as done in other parts of the country.

According to the groups, they  have it on good authority that there are ongoing mass mobilisation of youth groups in Annang land, Oro nation and Obolo people of Eastern Obolo to embark on serial and sustained protest until government capsizes and to oppose every policy of the incumbent administration if they succeed in this endeavor.

They pleaded with those concerned to allow full legislative procedure to be applied in handling the very sensitive issue stressing: “Let no one mislead the traditional rulers further by making them go back and forth with their words and position.”

“In saner climes, since the law has already been signed by the Governor, the right thing to do is to begin the process of repealing and making it nugatory by causing the appropriate quarters to send fresh bill to counter the former. But those who do not love Akwa Ibom State will want to pass through the backdoor.”