After one year, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno in dousing fire acceded to rotation of the position of President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers among the three major tribal groups in the state.
The newly amended Traditional Rulers Council Law (2024) was ratified by the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly on Friday, 20 September, 2024, authorising the President-General to remain in office for four years.
The Governor maintained his stoic stance by swearing in the Oku Ibom Ibibio and President-General of the Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, CFR on September 23, 2023, an action that generated furore and criticisms among major dialectal groupings in the state.
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- Despite a groundswell of oppositions, the governor quickly assented the Traditional Rulers’ Council Bill into law that was hurriedly passed by the State House of Assembly under the Speakership of Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, who is representing Abak State Constituency.
To douse tribal fire, Eno set up a seven-member committee to broker truce with the aggrieved Paramount Rulers by withdrawing the matter for out-of-court settlement.
In fulfilling his pledge, the Governor sent an executive bill to the House and without much ado, the state lawmakers sat and passed it into law.
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Speaking at the swearing-in of newly recognized monarchs at the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers Chambers, on Monday, September 23, Governor Eno clarified that his assent to the amended law was part of his administration’s efforts to amicably resolve lingering issues of ethnicity and occupation of the apex office of the traditional institution.
Governor Eno tasked the traditional rulers to close ranks and complement the effort of the State Government in unifying the state, after assenting to the newly amended Traditional Rulers Law to allow rotation of the position of President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers.
He used the occasion to congratulate the newly recognized 11 Clan Heads and 132 Village Heads, urging members of the traditional institution to shun politics and divisive tendencies and collaborate with government to reinforce the aspirations of the ARISE Agenda, especially in areas of security, order and peace for the betterment of the State.
The State Chief Executive thanked God for the lives of all the Paramount Rulers conveyed the 37th anniversary felicitations of his government to them and Akwa Ibom people in their domains, particularly commending the Edidem E. C. D. Abia led seven-man committee for finding ways around the issues that bedevilled the institution over time, and the President General, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk CFR for holding the forte and ensuring peace while the issues persisted.
Eno affirmed that the amended Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Law has provided for the position of the President General will be rotational across the major ethnic groups, stressing that no ethnic groups has superiority over another in the State, urging all to come together and work collaboratively to maintain the peace and and support the government to succeed
He reassured of his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of traditional rulers in the State, as he announced the donation of Toyota Prado SUVs to some four Paramount Rulers.
“The theme of our Thanksgiving Service yesterday was taken from Psalms 122: 7 “ Peace Within Thy Walls and Prosperity Within Thy Palaces”. It is in that spirit that I most heartily thank you for deciding to reinforce the cementing layers of peace within the walls of our dear state. Permit me to salute you for deciding to collectively resolve an issue that was purely traditional in nature but unfortunately was allowed to be politicized, the “Traditional Rulers’ Law, Cap. 155, Laws of Akwa Ibom State.”
“In my meetings with you, I had reiterated government’s determination to resolve the issue through your active collaborations. I am happy that today, following the great works done by the 7-man Committee I had set up to resolve the issue, headed by the Paramount Ruler of Eket, HRM, Edidem E.C.D Abia, the matter: The position of the President General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, has now been amicably resolved. By your unanimous decision, the position will now be rotated amongst the ethnic configurations of our dear State “, the Governor affirmed.
Speaking further, he urged the monarchs to resist the needling of politicians in the conduct of affairs or matters that are purely traditional, adding that Akwa Ibom State is a homogenous society and thus should celebrate the mix as a unique blessing from God, rather than create wedge issues to divide the State.
In his remarks at the event, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong, described the event as a landmark moment of cultural significance.
Archibong praised the Governor for his visionary leadership and dedication to improving rural infrastructure, adding that the administration’s “Arise Agenda” has brought notable development to the State and consolidated upon the gains of the State over the past 37 years.
He said the Governor has respect for traditional rulers, demonstrated by the timely release of allowances, security, and welfare packages for them and assured of the cooperation of the traditional institution in furthering the ARISE Agenda of his administration.
The Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of the Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk CFR, commended Governor Umo Eno’s peace loving disposition and pledged the commitment of traditional rulers to maintain their advisory role to ensure peace.
Recall that three prominent members of Afe Annang in a Suit No. HU/321/2023 dragged the House of Assembly and the state government before Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo Judicial Division under His Lordship, Justice Ntong F. Ntong, who is now a Judge of Appeal Court.
The applicants were His Majesty, Obong Blaise Udofia Awaka-Ama (Itai Afe Annang), (Abom) Obong Prof. Alphonsus Udo and (Abom) E.E.P. Umanah for Afe Annang and Annang tribe, among others.
They joined Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly and Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State as respondents.
